John 1:14 NKJV
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder…So what exactly are you beholding?
Beautiful things are all around us. Yet, I can’t help but wonder if maybe we miss true beauty most of the time. Perhaps what is most lovely is passed by altogether because we haven’t truly seen the Altogether Lovely One. (Song of Songs 5:16).
We see beauty as the perfection of a blooming rose, the intricacy of a snowflake, the brilliance of a sunrise or sunset. We like things that are orderly, symmetrical, tidy and clean.
As a matter of fact, we’d rather see the architecture of Notre Dame de Paris than an imperfect (yet made-right-with-God) family of ragamuffins, a.k.a. “the church” as glorious.
Now don’t get me wrong, these things are grand indeed. Beauty in creation was gifted to reveal God’s nature and for our delight. However, our Father sees beauty differently than we do. And He wants us to see through His eyes the splendor that is most satisfying!
“Creation cost Him nothing. Salvation cost Him everything.” – Reinhard Bonnke
Do you see a baby, born of a poor, peasant teenage girl, laid in an animal feeding trough, situated inside a stone shelter built for sacrificial animals as beautiful? (Micah 4:8).
Today we would call this irresponsible child neglect. Yet, it was into this seemingly dark and hopeless situation the Light of the world chose to come close. The One who spoke the world into existence and holds it in His hand, is now held by the hands of sinful flesh; to save it.
What child is this? This helpless babe wrapped in swaddling cloths soon to be laid bare at His cross. This sinless babe soon becoming our sin, bound in burial cloths so we could become His children full of Hope, wrapped in His embrace, bound by His love.
Do you see this Man, marred beyond recognition, able to see all His bones, hanging from a rugged cross, as beautiful?
Do you see His agony; His sweat turned to blood and the crown of thorns dug deep into His head, as the most beautiful thing to behold? All so you could be crowned with glory and honor; having peace of mind in your helmet of salvation, believing you are forgiven and favored.
Did you know He saw you, His most valued creation and prized possession, as so beautiful to behold, that even when you could care less about God and were dead in your sins, He desired you so much He gave up His one and only Beloved Son for you?
Do you see Jesus bowing low to lift a prostitute up and out of her shame as beautiful? (John 8:1-12).
Do you see a thug and a thief becoming Jesus’s long awaited dinner friend as glorious? (Luke 19:1-10).
Do you see the sanity of a demon-possessed madman being Jesus’s top priority as magnificent? (Mark 5:1-20).
Oh, this beautiful manger King who left the throne room of heaven to embrace humanity – not in a palace, but in the muck and manure of this life so that He could pull you out of the slimy pit of your own.
Is there anything more breathtaking than God becoming Man? Deity getting dirty? The Almighty stooping low? The Lord becoming The Lamb?
“Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up his divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Philippians 2:6-8 NLT
My family and I recently took a trip up north. Days before arriving, a winter storm had blanketed the forest with my favorite…glistening snow! However, a couple of days into our stay, the weather began to warm. In some patches, where brilliant, unblemished powder once settled, there now stood a muddy mess.
And then I saw it. That muck was our condition. (The condition we all too often still behold). It was a picture of our scarlet sin and curse that Jesus bore in His own body so that we by His scarlet blood could be cleansed, made whiter than snow! (Isaiah 1:18).
Our Father no longer sees our fallen state. For it was finished at the cross. All because the only baby born to die clothed Himself in our filthy rags, so we, who believe and belong to Him, will remain forever arrayed in His dazzling robe of righteousness!
Beloved, where your sin increases His grace superabounds all the more! Where your misery is multiplied, this Suffering Servant becomes your sweet Salvation. Where your disgrace reaches the depths of despair, your resurrected Rescuer raises you up to reign in Him!
Beautiful one, it’s only in beholding Him you become like Him. It’s only in hearing who He is you get healed and in seeing His finished work you are transformed.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV
Child of God, Jesus meets you where you are. But when all you behold are your problems, weaknesses, failures, guilt and brokenness, you will find yourself bowed down living life out of your old nature; from earth towards heaven…as if Jesus missed something at the cross.
“When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”
Matthew 17:8 NKJV
In contrast, when you behold Jesus and all He has accomplished on your behalf, you will see your true self. You will live life risen, receiving all He died to give you while enjoying the ultimate relationship with Him!
– Corrie Ten Boom
Praying you’ll be richly blessed by beholding anew the Bliss of Christmas!
Resting In His Love,
Annalee Reyes
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(If you’ve never beheld THE Beauty of Christmas by receiving all your Savior has done for you and you desire to be born again in His Love, you can pray this simple prayer to enter into eternal life:
“Father God, I believe you sent your Son to die for me and by His blood He washed my sins away and took my curse at the cross. Lord Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart and be Lord and Savior of my life. I give my life to you and believe I am now a new creation, raised in newness of life in you. I am now your spotless, dearly loved child. In Jesus name. Amen.”)