"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened," "Come near to God and He will come near to you," "If you seek the Lord your God you will find Him, if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul."  Truly the scriptures tell us that the Lord, our God desires a relationship with His people, with His sons and daughters, with us--with me.  And I reflect on the New Testament relationships of Jesus with those close to him--with Mary who sat at His feet, and John who reclined next to Him at the table, and the woman who poured oil and tears on His feet and wiped them with her hair, and the children who, by His invitation, climbed into His lap. So many had an opportunity for physical contact with the Savior.  It is one of the saddest revelations I have ever come upon that the only mention of those seeking His face, were Judas who kissed Him to betray Him and those who hit and spat upon Him as He walked to Calvary.

Still, He has not hidden His face from us.  Still, He calls us to come. Still, He loves and desires us.  Unbelievable! Unfathomable! Un-NATURAL!  And it is a thing that speaks to the emotions.  The word "heart" in the verse refers to feelings.

I think of little Jorja.  When she really wants my attention, she doesn't bow at my feet, or recline against me at the table. Feet and laps are OK for things like games or mealtimes, but when she's hurt or tired or frightened, she puts her little cheek against my cheek and her little arms around my neck; and when she gives me "sugar," she goes for the face.  When she needs something, she gets up close and looks me in the eye. In short, for the important stuff, she seeks my face.

Our Awesome Abba, Daddy, has invited us to do the same thing with Him--to be His children as He created us to be.  I'm grateful for the times when I can kneel before His Majesty, and I'm humbled by the times I can worship at His feet, but I am saved by the times when I can reach His Beautiful Face, and the times when I can just be His child coming in full assurance of His unconditional love.

Abba, Daddy, You are Lord and King, but You have invited us to seek Your Face, and our hearts yearn for You.  Lift us up, Lord, beyond the troubles of this world, beyond Your Feet, and even beyond Your lap, that we may place a cheek against Your Cheek and love You as You have desired for us to love You. Amen