Face to Face

I've been trying a new thing with my personal devotional time. For every verse I read, I look up all the crossreferences that come up in the margin beside it. It can take a long time sometimes, but you stumble across verses you never new existed before, and get whole different perspectives on the verse. Today, I came across a reference to Numbers 12:6-8:

He said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

Moses is a personal favorite of mine. I get inspired everytime I read of his personal relationship with God in a time where it was unheard of to be on speaking terms with Him. When I read of his visit on Mt. Sinai and how the glory of the Lord shown so brightly on his face from his time spent with God that the people couldn't even bare to look at him, I want that. And yet, here again is another awesome story of him that just makes me so jealous of the faithfulness he had in God.

First of, the first verse talks of God meeting His prophets. Right then and there is a promise, because after we are redeemed in Him, we are all made sons and priests in Him! He has promised to (at the very least) reveal Himself to us: in visions and dreams.

But then, the passage changes tempos. Moses is set apart, called out, as one with whom God can speak to face to face; one who knows the heart of his Saviour so well that there was no need to speak in riddles to him, because Moses knew what God was saying. He truly knew God's heart.

Would that we all could have such a relationship, I cried at first. Then as I read that verse again, I realized that: we can have this relationship with our Father. Oh, so much more! We can ampliphy this to such greater levels! When Elijah was caught up into heaven, Elisha was not simply content with Elijah's mantel, or annointing, but asked for a double portion; and guess what? He got it, and so can we!

We were redeemed at Calvery with Jesus' blood that washed away our sins, and enabled us to come before our holy Father, spotless and pure in His sight. Moses and the Isrealites did not have that freedom; but rather, they had to make sacrifices daily to to the Lord to have their sins taken away. God may not be calling us to lay down a sacrifice like that every day, but He IS calling us to be living sacrifices to Him.

To be a living sacrifice means to:
Be willing to be different
Be willing to make time for Him
Be willing to give your all, and then some
And to be willing to be a leader

That's how we can come before God and have such a pure relationship as Moses did. If not more. Now that doesn't sound like much, but think about it.

When you're willing to be different, that means you're willing to stand out. It means when everyone decides to go to a party, you can say no. And in the little things, to stand up and do what's best. It means to do your best in everything, because we do all for the glory of God!

When you're willing to make time for Him, it means waking up an extra half hour (give or take) even when you don't feel like it. Even when you're in the busiest season of school, or work, or sports, or drama, or all 4, that you put Him first. That you give up what needs to be in order to grant you that precious time with Christ, even when it hurts. Moses didn't shine from the Son until he went away and met with the Lord. In private. Public settings (aka church, bible studies) can be great! But to truly get to know Him, make it personal.

To give your all. And then some. Make God your first priority, and He'll become your everything. Give your all to become all that you can be! To gain your life, you must lose it first.

And to be a leader? Think about it. God has called us to be servant's, with servant's hearts, hands, and feet. But, He also said that to be a leader, you must be a sevant of all. It goes right hand in hand. So, it means to serve Him and others; yet it also means to make an impact on those around you. To be an example others can exemplify. As Paul said so clearly, "Follow me as I follow Christ".

Learn from Moses' example; follow God whole-heartedly, never looking back. Ask God for a true desire to know Him, and a hunger for His word, and He will grant you that double portion!

God will meet you, face to face.

He said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" Numbers 12:6-8
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. 1 Peter 2:2
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. Matthew 6:25
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 10:31