Faces: Stories They Tell And How Love Matters
Love whispers, Look deeply and intently at faces. Gaze into their eyes. They’re faces with a story and the people God loves.
There’s more to a face than meets the eye. Aesthetics present features in color and shape, and how they lay between the forehead and chin.
Yet, much more is seen. So consider the variant qualities of faces: beckoning, engaging, enchanting, yearning, magnetic, and stolid.
Faces are Storytellers
Narratives of gladness, sadness, loneliness, heroism, defeat, victory, or captivity dwell behind a face. And other chapters waiting to be written. Every human longs to share one story of magnitude. A story of real love.
God calls us to love the people in our home and family, in our neighborhood, in the workplace, in a local church, and so on. And loving in a broader sense in our community and world.
But how do we love others well? Can we love all people? And is it possible to simultaneously love people under our roof, those in our backyard, and people on the other side of an issue, a hurt, our town, and the world?
Perhaps the answer is found in an attempt to grasp how God sees and loves people.
See the Way God Sees
God sees every person as someone who needs a story of love. Because God loves each of us with a steadfast love like no one else.
His love story was already written on Calvary’s cross and an empty tomb. It becomes our personal love story if we let God write it on our hearts when we accept His salvation.
But other stories of love are waiting for us to pen in people’s lives.
When we look into the eyes of our spouse, children, friends, neighbors, or co-workers. They are the faces God loves. As we watch the local or national news with various storylines and people. These are the faces God loves.
Still further, every face in our social media feed. They are also the faces God loves. Even our own reflection. We are the faces God loves.
Love the Way God Loves
Faces often reveal the need for love buried under the rubble of ruins. Like the fallout of hunger, homelessness, brokenness, disease, loss, disasters, war, imprisoned, wounded, and orphaned. (Read about the “least of these” in Matthew 25:35-40.)
Faces often reveal the need for love buried under the rubble of ruins. Like the fallout of hunger, homelessness, brokenness, disease, loss, disasters, war, wounded, imprisoned, and orphaned. #story #LoveStory Click To Tweet
Perhaps, like me, you can’t bear to look into their eyes. It’s too much to handle. Our heart breaks with empathy. Compassion knocks on our heart’s door and moves us to tears.
But love goes beyond any feeling. It surpasses tears. Love says, Do something about it. Like God, we love in action.
Maybe you’re in the same dilemma as me. I want to do something, but often, I never follow through. Wondering how “do something” really looks.
“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. And “do not grow weary in doing good.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5, 13 (ESV)
God loves with an everlasting love. It has no beginning or end. It continues in a steady state. It’s unlimited. And His love is love in action.
Love goes beyond any feeling. It surpasses tears. Love says, "Do something about it." Like God, we love in action. #story #LoveStory Click To TweetFaces and Love in Action
If we could see the face of God, it would tell His story: For love’s sake, I sent my very heart, my only Son. Therefore, we follow His example. We sacrifice. We’re moved to action. We help dig people out of the rubble.
Here are some of the actions showcasing love.
- Pray. Start a prayer journal, use a world map, pray with people in the moment.
- Forgive. Because we have a story of forgiveness in Christ, we walk in forgiveness.
- Give resources. Everything we possess comes from God. Are we generous givers?
- Volunteer skills and time. God desires we also steward these things well.
- Get involved. Get our hands dirty. And our feet. Be Jesus with skin.
- Share the good news of the gospel. The greatest love story ever told.
- Go on a mission trip. If we can’t go across our state line or across the ocean, do daily missions. Ask God for divine appointments.
- Support community organizations and ministries.
- Tear down the walls of racial tension. See past skin color. God created only one race—the human race.
- Make a difference in the lives of people—in our personal world and the world at large.
- Encourage our churches to lead the way of love in our backyard and around the globe.
Love Whispers
Remember, love whispers, Look deeply and intently at faces. Gaze into their eyes. They’re faces with a story and the people God loves.
Love whispers, 'Look deeply and intently at faces. Gaze into their eyes. They’re faces with a story and the people God loves.' #story #LoveStory Click To Tweet
Which love in action(s) do you currently practice or want to work on?
This week we talked about faces. But last week we discussed voices. Namely, the Voice of Hope, if you missed her 6 Mic-drop Messages.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Inspire Me Monday/Legacy Linkup/Literacy Musings/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Recharge Wednesday/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected and Faith On Fire.
© 2020 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Such truth here that we have choices and can serve others in many ways in our communities and abroad. Thanks for this reminder Karen!
Yes, Jill. If we could see the face of God, it would tell His story: For love’s sake, I sent my very heart, my only Son. Therefore, we follow His example. We sacrifice. We’re moved to action. We help dig people out of the rubble.
When we gaze upon someone’s face, and see them as a child of God, we can’t help but love them. Wonderful post, Karen!
Blessings!
Thank you, Martha! Every face we look into, even our own reflection, are faces God loves. I pray to model His love of sacrifice and loving in action. God bless, friend!
Discipling and sharing the Gospel are my current ways of love in action. I love to teach and it is a way I love people and relate to them. Seeing God heal, restore, and love people through His Word and sometimes even my mouth is amazing.
Stephanie, those are wonderful ways to love others. And we never know just how much the multiplication process happens with the people we influence, influencing others…who influence and love others…and so on.
What a powerful post! Behind each and every face, there is a unique story. We should not judge a person by the expression on their face. Get to know each person. Learn their story. Show God’s love to every person.
Thanks so much, Melissa. I used to wonder what story was behind a face when someone on the street held a sign for help. Or the homeless families (with kids) our church served 3-4 times a year. I was blessed enough to hear some of their stories first hand. Often stories they would have never chosen.
“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. And “do not grow weary in doing good.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5, 13 (ESV)
Putting a face to anything makes it so much more personal… and love IS personal. Thank you, Karen. God bless you!
I like that line, Jessica, “love IS personal.” Most things in life are, people just don’t realize it. If we could see the face of God, it would tell His story: For love’s sake, I sent my very heart, my only Son. Therefore, we follow His example. We sacrifice. We’re moved to action. We help dig people out of the rubble.
Wonderful emphasis on faces, Karen. When we look into the eyes of another, we see the soul shining through, the eternal part that we hope to touch with the love of Jesus. What action do we work on, you asked. I’m working on praying consistently for those I encounter on social media in loss and tragedy during this virus. My husband and I are considering how we can get food to those who are unemployed during this pandemic. We want to meet those needs and are plotting out action. Look into the eyes. See the need. Those two things are step one. Great post!
Hey Melinda, I like your actions of love. We often underestimate the power of prayer. I learned a long time ago, to not say I’m praying unless I really plan to. I pray right then, I write it in a prayer journal or on a prayer list as a reminder. And if I’m with someone who needs prayer, I’m learning to pray right then and there.
“We want to meet those needs and are plotting out action.” Such a good way to team together as a couple to help some of the least of these.
Such a powerful post. And thank you for the practical list at the end of the post.
Made me think of the line from the song Oscar Hammerstein II wrote for the Sound of Music:
“A bell is no bell till you ring it.
A song is no song till you sing it.
And love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay.
Love isn’t love till you give it away.”
Ava, thank you. I love the Sound of Music and needed reminding of those powerful and beautiful lyrics. Wasn’t aware of the writer’s name. I want to showcase love by giving it away! Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely Ms. Karen. Love is indeed meant to also be a verb. When we, as Christians, observe someone in need of the same love God has poured into us, then we must act. I can’t fix all the ills of this world, but God can. I can, however, make every effort to fix what I can in my little part of it. God’s blessings ma’am.
J.D., Love is a verb…a choice we make to do something and love people with our hearts and not just lip service. And I like how you mentioned we can each make a difference in our corner of the world.
So many possibilities here. No one can say, “I can’t do anything.” There’s always something we can do. Great post, Karen. God bless!
So true, Nancy. If empathy breaks our hearts, kindness shows us a need, and compassion moves us to tears, then love acts.
I think I need to work on all of them! I struggle with having good intentions and then leaving it at that. The realization of that “do something,” but then life gets in the way and I forget about it. Thank you for this beautiful reminder and conviction that good intentions do not look the same as love in action!
Emily, I like this line, “…good intentions do not look the same as love in action!” This is the realization we must all come to. Thanks for commenting.
We’ve been doing something different with our giving this year, Karen. We used to give a certain percentage every couple of weeks as a regular offering at church and not much more than that. We pulled back some of that money so we can be more intentional with our giving. So we’ve been selecting certain ministries and faith organizations to give to, some regularly and some with one-time donations. This also allows us to give when we hear of specific needs. This approach opened our eyes more to the needs around us and gives us a much better sense of partnership. And we feel like we are better stewards of the money God puts in our care.
Stephen, I like the terms you used like “partnership” and “better stewards” and “more intentional.” I often pray the Lord opens my eyes to needs He’s calling me to meet and people He’s calling me to minister to in this way. So, I pray for divine appointments when I’m out running errands or traveling. Of course, nowadays, that doesn’t happen as much, but I pray it may be a divine appointment with a seeking soul in my own neighborhood or a community ministry.
The faces God love’s…it speaks volumes Karen. Such a good reflective word to show love in action. My neighbor across the street is often in need of shrubs cut or leaves managed. The Lord put the family on my heart and after I help I get a great sense of joy in my heart. Love your post seems to ring loud to me to look, see a need, and be a help agent when able! 😀❤️🙏
Valerie, you certainly are a “help agent” selflessly helping your neighbor. I like how you reminded us that love in action gives us “a great sense of joy.” It truly causes joy to rise up and spill over.
I was just thinking about this topic while on my walk with my dog. We have woman in our church is hurting very badly. But in her pain, she is also hurting others. I thought to myself, “We must love her and not be angry with her. Her pain is talking and our love must be louder.” I love the part where you write, “God sees every person as someone who needs a story of love. Because God loves each of us with a steadfast love like no one else.” Truly, this woman, in our church, needs so much love to help her through her suffering. Great article, Karen!
“Her pain is talking and our love must be louder.” This is great insight, Marcie. So thankful God’s love is not based on anything we do or don’t do, but freely given with nothing expected in return. It’s why we love Him, because He first loved us. Thanks for your comment.
Karen, this is so beautiful and moved my heart. Oh God, give me eyes to see every human being as someone You love and You invite me to love them with the love Christ poured out for me on the cross. I needed this reminder today. Thank you for re-setting our hearts and minds on the love of God. For God so loved the world….
Thank you, Melissa. God’s model of love is something worth taking a fresh look at. God loves with an everlasting love. It has no beginning or end. It continues in a steady state. It’s unlimited. And His love is love in action. Lord, help us love in action…not just lip service, but heart service too.
I’m so glad I stopped by, Karen. This is such a powerful reminder to really look at the faces all around us–faces that God loves. It’s easy to forget that, even about ourselves! But it really motivates and moves me into action. My husband and I have been finding ways to help others, but more needs to be done in this time of unprecedented need! Virtual hugs to you, my friend!
Beth, I’m also glad you stopped by to visit. Yes, sometimes we know God loves others, but sometimes have a hard time grasping that He loves us. Maybe we don’t love ourselves. And if we can’t really love ourselves…it’s hard to obey God’s commands to love our neighbor as ourself. Big virtual hugs to you!
Well done Karen. Such a well written story that shows how love should drive us to look deeply into the eyes of others. To know them and to love them with a Christ like love.
Thanks, Yvonne. Behind every face is the need for love…a love that really matters.
Yes, faces can make all the difference! I find it so important to keep photos on my fridge of people I’m praying for, so I can see their faces and remember them. Love matters indeed.
Lisa, I do the same thing, have my fridge doors loaded with photos and faces. Thanks for sharing!
[…] Also, serving and loving people like God as in my article, Faces: Stories They Tell and Why Love Matters. […]
The face is perhaps the best way to see imago Dei–the reflection of God. Every soul we meet is a sacred being destined for eternity. Help us, Lord, see beyond the features to your reflection. Thank you, Karen.
“Help us, Lord, see beyond the features to your reflection.” Beautiful, Nancy. All of mankind is created in the image of the Almighty with souls made for eternal life. May we see that truth in every face.