Behold Him

Our infinite, awesome beyond description, God of love, is on the throne, today and forever.  Psalm 93 reminds us that "The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is robed, He has girded Himself with strength and power; the world also is established, that it cannot be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting."  Clearly all creation is His handiwork and reveals His glorious nature.  However, more than His greatness, He is also very present and desiring to meet personally with you.  Hear the words of Jesus, "Come to Me." 

Do you remember David's key to life in Psalm 27:4, one thing I have desired all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord?.   So "Behold Him."  There is an amazing transfer of God's nature when we take time to focus on Him.  Isaiah promises that God keeps him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee (Is 26:3).  David in Psalm 17 states that he will continue to behold God's face in righteousness and be fully satisfied.  Jesus, the obvious light of the world, also declared that if we believe in the light, we would become sons of light. (John 12:36)   God desires that in His light we become light, even going so far as to announce to us in the sermon on the mount, "you are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).     

May I suggest three key ways to behold Jesus, glorify the Father, and be fruitful.  As you recall, in John 15, Jesus said "if you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit."  Abiding in Jesus, first of all, suggests that we talk to Him. Since He is with us always, He simply longs for us to share our heart and be open to His voice. Do this often and always. 

Secondly, we need to trust God's Word and deliberately choose to have our thoughts and emotions align with His truth.  As a man thinks, so is he, according to Proverbs.  Jesus said, "If you continue in My Word, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free."  2 Corinthians 10 would have us take every thought captive to obey Christ, thus releasing divine power to overcome the enemy.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.   

Finally, the third way to behold Him, is to obey His commands.  Jesus, in John 14, points out that if you love Me you will keep My commandments.  Not only does obedience demonstrate genuine love, but Jesus further promises that He and the Father will manifest themselves to the one who keeps His Word.  Nothing will ever replace God showing Himself to you.

When we draw near to God, He draws near to us.  As we behold Him, our hearts and minds are open to hear His voice, both directly and through His Word, which transforms our mind and enlightens our heart.  Paul reminds us that "we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the gory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory just as by the Spirit of the Lord."  

Take time today, to be still and behold Him.