Turning the Head

I learned to turn my head because dad turned his head.

Why did we turn our heads?

It was the bikini-clad beauty on the car commercial or in the beach scene in a movie. I learned that we were supposed to turn our heads to avoid seeing something that we should not see. I didn’t understand the reason.

I later learned that turning my eyes away from the indecently dressed model/actress was to avoid lust. Instead of gazing and taking the risk of allowing my mind to develop improper desires...look away.

I have made a covenant with my eyes;

How then could I gaze at a virgin?

Job 31:1

Job made a promise to himself to turn his head and look away to avoid lust.

Since that early head-turning lesson from my dad, I have learned that there are other times to turn my head. Did you know that not only does the turning of one’s head have practical value, it is symbolic of rejection?

In Scripture, God turned his face or hid his face from His people when they turned to idols. (Leviticus 20:6; Deuteronomy 31:18) Do you see all the turning? They turned away from God, rejecting Him. In disappointment, He turned away from His people, rejecting them.

King David pleaded with God, “Do not hide your face from me,” a plea echoed one line later: “Do not abandon me nor forsake me.” (Psalm 27:9) In the beloved Psalm 51, David pleaded, “Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.”

For God to look at a person brings blessings; to turn His face away is rejection.

Is there anything in life that you should turn your face from? Is there anything that you should reject by literally turning your head?

Sitting at the wedding of an acquaintance, the bride and groom stepped away from the officiant and approached a statue. They knelt before it and prayed. I could not look! It was offensive! It did not matter who the statue represented; nor the reason for bowing and praying. It was idolatry!

The Apostle Paul wrote…

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 

—Ephesians 5:11-12

Are you curious about sin? 

Do you want to know more about darkness?

Do you want to talk about the things ungodly people do in secret?

Be careful with your gaze. Keep your curiosity in check. To whatever it is that you consistently turn your head to look, there lies your heart’s interest.

Idolatry causes God to turn his face away; but a humble heart captures his attention as does one who is moved by His word. (Isaiah 66:2)

What about you? 

Is there anything that causes you to turn your head and look away? 

What kinds of things turn your head to draw your attention?

The writer of Hebrews encouraged the saints to “lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”

If, like Lot’s wife we turn toward Sodom, we will become like Sodom. But if we set our gaze on Jesus, we will become like Jesus. 

On what do you gaze?

Mark Stinnett

September 28, 2025

How Can You Know You Are Accepted By God?

Acceptance is important to everyone. Most people love family because families are usually a little more tolerant and understanding, a little more accepting. Yet, when that is not the case, we associate with a circle of friends who accept us for who we are, warts and all.

Acceptance comes through positive affirmation: tangible rewards, special favors, verbal affirmation, overlooking mistakes, ignoring personal weaknesses, etc. We know when we are accepted because of quantifiable affirmations. What I mean is that we can actually refer to something said or done to us or done for us that validates our acceptance. For example:

• A person pays you a compliment.
• A grandparent sends you a birthday gift.
• A friend invites you to a party.
• Coworkers laugh at your witty remark.
• You receive a firm handshake that goes beyond a casual, “Hey, how ya doin’?”
• You get a genuine pat on the back for your efforts.
• Someone goes out of their way to do a favor for you, whether you need it or not.
• Someone stands up for you and supports you when you are at a disadvantage.

And the list goes on and on.

Are you accepted by God? How can you know? How does God give you positive affirmations? Some people live by the thinking that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. Yet…

He [God] causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 

—Matthew 5:45

And don’t forget Job. He was a blameless man, yet he suffered catastrophic loss.

I think we need a different way of thinking…

• God gave His only begotten Son as a sacrifice to pay your sin debt. (John 3:16)
• Jesus said that He was leaving to prepare a place for His followers and that He would return to take them home. (John 14:3)

Those are amazing promises of acceptance. Yet, they deal more with the future. What about now? Can I know that God accepts me now?

• Faith: “He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
• Character: The beatitudes of Jesus describe godly character and behaviors for which we are assured divine acceptance and blessings. (Matthew 5:3-12)
• Pursuit of God: By putting God first in life, He has promised to take care of our physical needs in this life. (Matthew 6:25-34)
• Service: When a disciple of Jesus looks after the needs of a fellow believer, he is actually serving the Lord and is assured a reward. (Matthew 25:31-40; Mark 9:41)
• Sacrifice: Those who have sacrificed possessions and even family for God are promised blessing in this life and in the life to come. (Luke 18:29-30)
• Godliness: “Godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8)

God has made promises. We can respond by adjusting our attitudes and behaviors to conform to His instruction. When we do, we can know by divine promise that we are accepted.

But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word. 

—Isaiah 66:2

Mark Stinnett

May 9, 2021