I sinned during the sermon. Although it was not my intention, I said something very personal and very aggressive toward a member of our congregation. She was hurt and confused. I would not have been surprised if she found a new church. But she didn’t. Instead she reached out to me and, after my sincere repentance, we reconciled. These days, if you would see the two of us at our church, you would see smiles and laughter and genuine friendship.

Do you know what that is? Not just a Hallmark ending. That is a glimpse of God. When the apostle Paul wrote, “God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made” (Romans 1:20), he was telling us that what we see and experience here has a lot in common with the God “up there.” If Jesus is the Light of the world and if her forgiveness was “letting her light shine,” then what I experienced from her was a glimpse of Jesus himself.

Just imagine the connections. Every word of encouragement is a faint echo of God’s voice, prepared to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Every invitation to come to the party is a preview of Jesus, ready to say, “Come and share in your Master’s happiness.” Every act of love that you simply do not deserve and never would expect is a glimpse of the grace of God.