Lord God,
I love how often the word, "Behold!" comes up in my reading of the Christmas story. So today I want to just stop and give thanks for the way You told us to look and pay attention to Your work.
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son." Thank You for this prophecy, given hundreds of years before Jesus was born. It kept people looking and searching for a Savior. It reminds us that Your promise of salvation would not be thwarted, even though Your method was inconceivable to us humans. Yet You did it!
"Behold, an angel of the Lord." When Joseph has both of his dreams, Your Word uses the word, "Behold." Both times Joseph knew this was significant and he needed to obey. Even though it was a dream, it must have startled him, so it's not a surprise that we, the readers, are told to "behold" - pay attention to something so remarkable. Lord, let us look and pay attention to You, even though angels do not appear in our dreams.
"Behold, there came wise men." We have no idea how big or small this entourage was. I wonder if it was a large group. How many of the wise men of the East would have been willing to make this journey? We don't know. But we do know that You sent them to make an impression upon all of Jerusalem, and especially Herod. What a sight they must have been! Thank You for telling us to behold these wise men and pay attention to why they were there, to worship Jesus.
And though not part of the actual Christmas story, I remember John's words, "Behold, the lamb of God." Thank You that at Christmas we celebrate the perfect Lamb who came to take our sins away. Don't let us forget, amid the hype and hurry of this season, to stop and behold what You have done. Let us pay attention and focus on the real reason for the season and share our good news with others.
Amen.
Photo: One of my favorite ornaments.
I love how often the word, "Behold!" comes up in my reading of the Christmas story. So today I want to just stop and give thanks for the way You told us to look and pay attention to Your work.
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son." Thank You for this prophecy, given hundreds of years before Jesus was born. It kept people looking and searching for a Savior. It reminds us that Your promise of salvation would not be thwarted, even though Your method was inconceivable to us humans. Yet You did it!
"Behold, an angel of the Lord." When Joseph has both of his dreams, Your Word uses the word, "Behold." Both times Joseph knew this was significant and he needed to obey. Even though it was a dream, it must have startled him, so it's not a surprise that we, the readers, are told to "behold" - pay attention to something so remarkable. Lord, let us look and pay attention to You, even though angels do not appear in our dreams."Behold, there came wise men." We have no idea how big or small this entourage was. I wonder if it was a large group. How many of the wise men of the East would have been willing to make this journey? We don't know. But we do know that You sent them to make an impression upon all of Jerusalem, and especially Herod. What a sight they must have been! Thank You for telling us to behold these wise men and pay attention to why they were there, to worship Jesus.
And though not part of the actual Christmas story, I remember John's words, "Behold, the lamb of God." Thank You that at Christmas we celebrate the perfect Lamb who came to take our sins away. Don't let us forget, amid the hype and hurry of this season, to stop and behold what You have done. Let us pay attention and focus on the real reason for the season and share our good news with others.
Amen.
Photo: One of my favorite ornaments.
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