According to the former President of the Norwegian Academy of Science and History and some historians from England, Egypt, Germany and India, our world doesn’t know much about political tranquility. Their studies concluded that since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace. During that same span of time, there have been 14, 351 wars in which 3.64 billion people have been killed. And all along the way, over 8,000 peace treaties have been made and broken. (Bits and Pieces)
But our message this week confirmed that with a proper focus, we can have real peace this holiday season. Pastor Jason urged us to BEHOLD some amazing truths found in Isaiah 40. We need to BEHOLD the Word of God and those things that we are lacking. He told us to keep our eyes peeled on the Sovereign Shepherd and His creation. We were encouraged to BEHOLD the Holy One, remember His care and His power.
So, I got to thinking about that Greek term “To behold.” It means to see or more accurately to inspect. There is a physical act that we do with our eyes, but we also need to make sense of what we see with our mind. And from God’s perspective, we need to have an inward spiritual perspective.
One of the best examples shows up in I John 3:1 where John instructs us to “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons (and daughters) of God.” (KJV)
If we want some personal peace, we need to BEHOLD the kind of love God has lavished on us. Inspect those details of that love. Be reminded that He will never leave us or forsake us. Notice carefully that His love is personal, directed to His kids. It is unwarranted and unmerited. It is a gift.
So, during this holiday season, when Satan attempts to steal all our joy, let’s be intentional about our focus. Instead of being flustered, let’s just slow down a bit and consider how “…wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:18-19 NIV).
Let’s BEHOLD the love of the Father.
But our message this week confirmed that with a proper focus, we can have real peace this holiday season. Pastor Jason urged us to BEHOLD some amazing truths found in Isaiah 40. We need to BEHOLD the Word of God and those things that we are lacking. He told us to keep our eyes peeled on the Sovereign Shepherd and His creation. We were encouraged to BEHOLD the Holy One, remember His care and His power.
So, I got to thinking about that Greek term “To behold.” It means to see or more accurately to inspect. There is a physical act that we do with our eyes, but we also need to make sense of what we see with our mind. And from God’s perspective, we need to have an inward spiritual perspective.
One of the best examples shows up in I John 3:1 where John instructs us to “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons (and daughters) of God.” (KJV)
If we want some personal peace, we need to BEHOLD the kind of love God has lavished on us. Inspect those details of that love. Be reminded that He will never leave us or forsake us. Notice carefully that His love is personal, directed to His kids. It is unwarranted and unmerited. It is a gift.
So, during this holiday season, when Satan attempts to steal all our joy, let’s be intentional about our focus. Instead of being flustered, let’s just slow down a bit and consider how “…wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:18-19 NIV).
Let’s BEHOLD the love of the Father.
Sherry Worel
Sherry Worel is a Bible teacher at heart and lives a life of ministry. She’s been involved at Coast Hills teaching Women’s LIFE, Bible studies, online courses, devotionals, participating in Upstream conversations, and much more. Having a love for education, Sherry has over 50 years of teaching experience with schools, churches, and mission agencies. As well as earning her Master’s at Talbot Seminary, she rounded out her education with 35 years as Head of School at Stoneybrooke Christian School. Sherry is happiest with a book or fishing pole in hand.