Proficiency of counterfeit detection proliferates through repeated exposure with the genuine. Federal agents spend countless hours handling real currency to hone their ability to spot a counterfeit bill. We do well to mirror that method as it applies to knowing the gospel and the one and only true God, our Father.
While “ … the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,” (Titus 2:11NKJV), we must behold Him for Him to become our salvation: “Behold, God [is] my salvation; … he also is become my salvation”(Isa 12:2). Beholding speaks to the repeated receiving in the eyes. Repetition of exposure is the prescribed method of knowing the genuine and thereby successfully detecting the counterfeit.
An intimate and established relationship founded upon the continuous receiving of the gospel of grace, prohibits the counterfeit from going undetected. Notice this warning in Galatians:
Gal 3:1 [A. S. Way Translation] Poor unreflecting Galatians!- how could you be caught and held by this spell of the evil-eye, …?
The Galatians began well. They received the grace of God. But when they neglected to reflect, to understand and took their eyes off of grace, they succumbed and were held by the “evil-eye”. We only manifest and possess the salvation the gospel brings when we attend to His words, inclining our ear unto His sayings, retaining them in our eyes … (Pro 4:20-21).
In order to gain our salvation, which the promised land represents, the Father doesn’t ask for our resources, not our sword nor our arm. He requires our intimacy; our eyes to be in His face, our eyes directed to the light of His countenance:
Ps 44:3 NKJV For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.
That word countenance comes from the Hebrew word [H6440] paniym, and is often translated as face. As we ingest His word, with an inclined ear and a focused eye toward that word, we transform from merely reading and studying the Bible to the beholding of His face. We move our eyes into the light of His countenance (His face) and we find grace, in his eyes!!!
Gen 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Join us on Wednesday, call in at 7pm to: 218.486.3691 access code 570919. Our Father promises that, “He will instruct and teach in the way we should go; He will guide us with His eye.” (Ps 32:8)
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