I organized a conference this weekend which had as its purpose to focus on Christ, and him alone. It wasn’t an event to teach teens about purity, or abstinence, or prayer, or evangelism or any other important, but secondary concerns of the Christian life. We were there to talk about Jesus.
It had been a long time since I just tried to sit and take a long look at Jesus. I’ve been full time in ministry for a little over a year, and it’s been consumed with assessing the group, and fun activities and retreats, missions, camp, logistics, and “relational ministry”. I started letting all that get in my head, and it eventually obstructed my view of Christ. But this weekend the kids and I were able to sit down, and really look at him. And I learned something.
When Moses came down off the mountain after viewing the Glory of the LORD, it was plainly obvious. His face shone so brightly with the reflected glory, that the Israelites were forced to cover their eyes. Moses had to wear a veil as the glory faded from his face.
Something similar happened with my group. Normally on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings it’s a chore to get them to pay attention and show any interest whatsoever in what we’re talking about. But yesterday they were fresh, they were excited. They asked and answered questions, discussed issues amongst themselves, and showed genuine interest in Christ and the Gospel. They reflected the glory they had encountered in the previous days.
If we make it a priority to view Jesus up-close and in detail, we’ll continue to reflect his glory to those around us. We may even reach the place which Paul reached when he said he considers all other things rubbish in comparison to knowing Christ.
Too many of our pastors and preachers focus their sermons on us: what we feel, what we need, and how Christ takes care of it. Rather, the focus should be on Him: Who he is, what he’s done, and what it means for us. If we fix our gazes on him instead of ourselves, we may see the reawakening of faith that so many hope for.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
