Daily Devotional

Proximity and A Radiant Face

“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.” Exodus 34:29

The power of the sun is really quite amazing, and yet seems normal to us because it simply comes up every morning like clockwork. But really it’s a massive exploding source of nuclear fusion that hurls light and heat throughout our whole solar system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And as we come into summer, many of us are well aware of what happens when we’ve spent too much time in the sun, unshielded. We call it a sunburn, and our skin radiates with the heat and rays that we have received. It’s a simple reaction that occurs when you position yourself in proximity to the sun.
 
Moses had an amazing encounter with Someone far greater than our own sun…but with the One who creates and holds suns together (Col. 1:17). He was invited up to Mount Sinai by the King of the Universe, and spent 40 days on the mountain with God. And when he came down, his face was beaming! Proximity to the Infinite for a mortal will always be awe inspiring, transformative, and cause you to radiate. Psalm 34:5 says, “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
 
So I ask you today, how’s your proximity to the One who makes men and women “radiant?” Are you distant, or ever pressing closer that you might be changed like Moses and the many others before us?  Moses’ face radiated physically, but all mortals who come in close proximity to God are transformed, and always in a wonderful way.
 
If you wonder about your proximity to Jesus currently, radiance, or not, is a simple indicator. In fact, your family and friends will notice with great insight. Is your spirit critical, jaded, or harsh?  Or do you light up a room and carry God’s shalom wherever you go?  The radiance that Jesus gives off is so evident, and is a gift to this hurting world. So I invite you to join me today in increasing our proximity to the King of Glory…that we might reflect His profound radiance!
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.