A SMILE FROM GOD

God, accept us again. Smile down on us and save us! Psalm 80:3

Three times in Psalm 80, Asaph writes these words, with slight changes each time. The first time He says, "God, accept us again. Smile down on us and save us." The second time he says, "God All-Powerful, accept us again. Smile down on us and save us!" The third time he says, "Lord God All-Powerful, accept us again. Smile down on us and save us!" Asaph earnestly desires a smile of approval from God.

Does God smile? There are a couple of Psalms that talk about God laughing at the wicked in a sneering, vindictive sort of way. A poetic style to get the point across to the readers is a form of storytelling used in the book of Psalms. I am not fond of visualizing God as vindictively smiling, but instead, personally think of Him smiling with love at His adopted-through-the -blood-of-Christ children. 

When a new girl in town came to our high school, she became instantly popular. I believe one of the reasons was that smile of hers. It was always on her face, and it was beautiful. She drew people to her, simply because of that infectious smile.

Maybe we can all learn from this girl's example. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones." Possibly one way to gain a joyful heart is merely to change our frowns into smiles. It's at least a beginning step in the right direction. We will draw people to us who need to hear the message of the joy that is in our hearts. A scowl will only turn people away. 

I would like to believe that God does smile. The Bible says that He lifts His countenance upon us and that His face shines on us. We grin when children learn to walk, say their first word, excel in school, and make wise choices. Don't you think God looks upon us and smiles when we take our first steps towards Him, when we speak to Him in our prayers, when we do an act of kindness in His name, and when we resist temptation?

We are drawn to Christ by His acts of kindness and miracles, but we are mesmerized by His big smile of accepting love. When we no longer can resist that attractive smile, we come and receive His gift of salvation. Once we are His, we will not want to escape this great salvation, as stated in Hebrews 2:3. Let God's contagious smile infect your face with His smile of love, peace, hope, and joy!

Help me to smile just like you, my Father. In Christ, I pray, Amen.