Pathways Press.com

MEDITATION:

Written by Asheritah Ciuciu, a contemporary writer and speaker.

Because what you behold is what will take hold of you. We know this instinctively, but sometimes we can forget, especially during the busy Christmas season. The Bible tells us about the importance of this very principle. When Jesus first walked onto the scene, John the Baptist introduced Him by saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b). John wanted people to stop what they were doing to gaze at Jesus…“Look,” John was saying. “See what’s in front of you.” Behold. means to see or observe, gaze at, or contemplate. We’re always beholding, even if we’re not aware of it. We behold the shiny purses and glittering things in storefronts, believing somehow, “This will make me happy.” We behold the number on the scale when holiday bites catch up with our waistline, groaning, “This will ruin me.” We behold the

Christmas family photo we posted, hoping to get more likes than her photo did, whispering, “This will validate me.” Behold. Look at the wrong things, and they determine your life’s direction. But … train your gaze on the right things, and they’ll transform your heart’s affections. Because when you stop to behold Jesus, His beauty and majesty will captivate you.  Jesus’ arrival and mission consumed John — it was all he ever talked about. John declared, “I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34, ESV). Because what you behold is what will take hold of you. What things captivate us during the holiday season? We’re bombarded by shiny things screaming for our attention. Christmas catalogs. Black Friday “deals.” Pinterest-ready cookie platters. Swoon-worthy party dresses. These and so much more fill our newsfeeds, our to-do lists, our conversations. If we’re not careful, we can get so wrapped up in the external preparations for Christmas that we forget to unwrap the reality of Christmas. It’s Jesus. Behold. The Lamb of God. The One who came to take away the sins of the world that we may find forgiveness and eternal life with God. This Christmas pause to reflect: What’s taken a hold of you? Most likely, it’s the things you behold.  But take heart — it’s not too late to make a new tradition this holiday season, to take time each day to stop the holiday preparation frenzy and prepare your heart to celebrate Jesus. Behold Him. Gaze upon His beauty. Rest in His presence. And share with others the things you discover about Him. This Christmas season may we become [people] who behold Jesus.

SCRIPTURE:

John 1:29

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

LINK TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC/VIDEO: