You’ve no doubt heard the expression, “jailhouse faith.” This describes the type of person whose life doesn’t display much faith out in the world, but once he’s in jail he picks up a Bible, attends church services, and prays. Don’t get me wrong, everyone in jail should read the Bible, go to church, and pray. But too often people in this situation are simply seeking the hand of God, not the face of God. The hand of God refers to God’s blessing; the way God might work or operate in their favor. The hand is what gives, what dispenses. I’ve known inmates that have come to jail, asked for a Bible, prayed, but when they get back from court and the judge didn’t rule in their favor, they toss their Bible aside saying, “Well, that didn’t work.” In short, their pursuit of God was only to seek what His hand might do for them. No relationship with God was ever really in view. This essay aims to encourage individuals with “jailhouse faith” to consider a change of direction in their faith pursuits; from seeking the hand of God to seeking the face of God. Seeking the face of God happens when one desires to know Him; who He is. It’s the satisfaction that only comes by knowing the person intimately, having communion and fellowship together; delighting in God, not simply in what He might do for you. When a person discovers that true satisfaction is found in a relationship with Jesus, that’s when life really begins!
God’s Hand -God does have a good and loving hand; a hand that can dispense blessings by way of rescue, deliverance, healing, exultation, and abundance.
1 Chronicles 4:10, “Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.”
Proverbs 10:22, “It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.”
Exodus 15:6, “Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.”
God’s Face – God wants you to know Him and enjoy Him forever. God loves you and desires a relationship with you. We encounter our loving Creator when we seek His face.
Psalm 27:8, “When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.”
Psalm 105:4, “Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually.”
1 Chronicles 7:14, “My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Enjoying the fullness of God – God’s face and hand, are not mutually exclusive. A Christian that knows and loves the Lord enjoys both intimacy with Him and the blessings that come from Him.
Psalm 16:11, “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”
Psalm 84:4, “How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You.”
Ephesians 3:14-19, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”
Conclusion – Consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:8-11, “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”
The key here is becoming a child of God; knowing your heavenly Father and experiencing His provision because you’re His son or daughter. This is done through having a personal relationship with Jesus. I wonder if you know Him?