READ:
Numbers
6:22-27
The
LORD make His face shine
upon
you, and be gracious to
you. –Numbers 6:25
A recent study that I read concluded
that smiling can be good for your health.
Research shows that smiling slows down the heart and reduces stress.
But smiling isn’t just good for you; a
genuine smile blesses those on the receiving end as well. Without saying a word, it can tell others
that you like them and that you are pleased with them. A smile can hug someone with love without
giving them even the slightest touch.
Life does not always give us a reason to
smile. But when we see a heartfelt smile
on a child’s face or through aged wrinkles, our hearts are encouraged.
Smiles are also a hint of the image of
God in us. In the ancient blessing
recorded in the book of Numbers we get an indication that
God “smiles”: “The LORD make His face shine upon you, and
be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you
peace: (Numbers 6:25-26). Those words are a Hebrew idiom for
the favor of God on a person’s life, asking God to smile on His children.
So today, remember that you are loved by
God, and that He is pleased to be gracious to you and to shine His face upon
you. –Joe Stowell
Lord,
may my life be so pleasing to You that You are
pleased
to have Your face shine on me. And as
You
graciously
smile on my life, may I find someone today
with
whom I can share Your love through a smile.
********************************************
Your
smile could be a message of cheer
from
God to a needy soul.
INSIGHT
In
showering the people with His favor, God instructed the high priest to bestow
on the people the blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26. In the New Living Translation, “The LORD make
His face shine upon you” (v.25) is rendered as “The LORD smile on you.” The Lord smiling on “lift[ing] up His
countenance” (v.26) expresses that the people have God’s special attention and
approval. This benediction, pronounced
by many pastors at the end of church series today, affirms that God provides
for and protects His people, assuring us of His presence, pardon, and
peace. The Hebrew concept of peace
(shalom) is all-embracing and includes the concepts of completeness, security,
health, wealth, tranquility, contentment, friendship, and peace with God and
man.
Have a blessed day.
God Our Creator’s Love Always
Unity & Peace
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