God Unmasked

1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

A few weeks ago I gave blood at a local donation center. Of course, I had to wait outside for a period of time in order to stay at prescribed social distancing. No one was admitted without a mask. I greeted the other two people outside and we were about to converse when I got called in. I never saw a single person without a mask and that’s good, but it bothered me. At first, I didn’t understand why. Then I realized that I couldn’t see anyone smile. And of course, nobody could see me smile either. Most of the time your face says more than even your words. The masks made it difficult to be a light for Christ. Although I do agree that the loving thing to do right now is to wear a mask, that doesn’t mean I have to like it. They are almost dehumanizing. Over half of our facial expressions are hidden. The question struck me, how do I demonstrate the love of Christ with most of my face hidden? How do I demonstrate the love of Christ when to love people means to stay away from them? It is counterintuitive.

This morning, part of my devotional was 1 Cor. 13. During this time of "social distance mask-wearing," we are challenged to be a light to the world, but it seems even more difficult than usual. The unconditional love, agape (αγαπε) that Paul is talking about is impossible for humans by ourselves. It is a God given love that is sacrificial, unexpected, and risky. Although it is harder to find avenues through which to share this love right now, it is not impossible. We must call upon our God whose love is limitless so we can love as he does. I believe that starts with seeing the world as he does, because God sees the world with the light of truth and grace. I think, each one of the statements about love in 1 Corinthians 13, put into practice, opens the door for God to effect change and transformation in our world. In so doing, we can unmask the face of God for those who may find him inaccessible. While we wait and are patient, God works to show us how he is working and how we can join in.

Bearing and enduring for us looks different than the world’s version of it. We believe in a God who is present while we are apart. We hope in a God who knows the future and so fills our isolation with hope. As his children we see a God who wears no mask, nor is he distant. He has not pulled back from the world nor does he stand by unconcerned.

Because of this love for us, we are capable of agape love as well. We can be people of patience when nerves are shot. We can be people of hope when people around us despair. We can be people of God’s promises and providence for those who are lost. We do this by pointing them to Jesus, his empty tomb, and the living God who created and sustains the universe. By displaying a love that resists irritability and finds the thumb print of God on everyone, we can reflect the God in whose image we are created - whose image is unmasked through our witness of love.

What this looks like practically in your life is for you to figure out. It may be as simple as giving blood, the gift of physical life, but it is demonstrated in Jesus Christ whose physical blood resulted in our spiritual life. As we faithfully follow him we unmask ourselves and show ourselves to be his disciples. In John 13:34, Jesus promises that the world will know us by this kind of evident love. It is the X-factor in every meeting, in every conversation, and in every workplace. And it all starts with the one whose love can never diminish, get tired, or give up. We live in this assurance from Jeremiah 31:3, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” We can share it, because he has shown it, and we've experienced it. And we long for that day when all masks are off and all distances are ended forever.