“I have much to tell you, but I don’t want to do it in a letter. For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.” 3 John 13-14 (NLT)
It seems evident that John was anxious to get together with the recipients of his letters. What a joy it is to get together with friends and family face to face! It sure stirs up visions of family gatherings and church fellowship meetings. Despite all the obstacles of fast-paced, routine lives, there’s just so much more to enjoy when we’re face to face.
These verses fly in the face of the Twitter, Facebook and texting fans. These media are great and expedient at times, but they fail in the relational significance of a face-to-face contact. Consider as well those who awake in the morning, go to work, come home, watch TV, go to bed and repeat the same routine day after day, with very little contact with others. Their routine, keeps them from experiencing significant relationships with other people. They never develop that relational touch.
We have to stop for a face-to-face encounter. We have to focus on the other person in a face-to-face visit. That is what God wants from us . . . a face-to-face visit. He has much to say to us and wants to speak with us face to face. This is why he sent his Only Son into the world. He wants a face-to-face encounter with us.
Slow down, stop texting for a moment. Get off Facebook and tune in to God’s presence. In a face-to-face encounter God will answer our questions, give us solutions to our problems, and speak to us about our lives and situations. If we will make the effort, God will visit with us face to face. It’s what we all say we want.
Dear Father, thank you for wanting a personal, intimate relationship with us. Forgive us, O God, for rushing through life and missing those divine moments of your presence. Enable us to recognize and experience your presence in the casual encounters of our lives. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous today face to face with God,