Standing in the Smile of God

Condemnation is a weight the human soul was never meant to carry. When it presses down, it crushes hope, darkens the mind, and leaves a person feeling orphaned, estranged, and alone. This was the experience of Admiral Sato, who built his life upon a belief that collapsed beneath him. When the emperor—whom he had worshiped as divine—was revealed as merely human, everything he trusted in crumbled. Stripped of his rank, income, and faith, he was left with nothing but despair.

But then, light broke through in an unexpected place. He saw peace and joy in a simple peasant family—believers who had little in worldly possessions but were rich in the presence of Christ. That glimpse of something real, something unshaken, softened his heart. And then he found grace in the words of Jesus:

"He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good." (Matthew 5:45)

That promise became his doorway to life. He could not claim goodness, but he could enter by grace. And when he did, the heavy burden of condemnation lifted.

How many today still walk under the weight of guilt, striving to prove themselves worthy? How many live as if standing beneath God’s frown, fearful and uncertain? Yet the invitation remains open. Christ has already borne our condemnation, and in Him, we stand in the Father’s delight.

Imagine a weary traveler caught in a storm, searching for shelter. The rain pounds, the wind howls, and the road stretches endlessly before him. Then, suddenly, he steps inside a warm, glowing home. The wind still roars outside, but inside—he is safe, embraced, and at peace. This is what it means to be in Christ. The storm of condemnation may rage in the world, but inside His grace, we stand in God’s smile.

The banker’s little boy had it right. In Christ, we are standing in the smile of God. Not because of our goodness, but because of His. Not because we have proven ourselves, but because Jesus is Lord, and His invitation remains: Come, rest, and live in My love.

Prayer of Confidence

Father, we rejoice that in Christ, we stand in Your smile. No condemnation remains, for Jesus bore it all. No distance separates us, for we are one with You in Him. You have already provided the peace, the joy, and the security our hearts long for. We stand in Your presence, fully accepted, fully loved. Thank You for the grace that welcomes us—not by our worth, but by Christ’s finished work. May we walk today in the confidence of Your unfailing embrace, knowing that Your love holds us firm, now and forever. Amen.

Insights from E. Stanley Jones' devotional, "In Christ."
Photo credit: Unsplash.