Who am I to behold?

What a pleasant morning... I sit on my bed, still in my pajamas, finishing my quiet time. And then I feel the urge --- the uncontrolled, overwhelming, joy-filled urge to WRITE. I run to the dining room and grab my laptop --- the medium through which this urge is alleviated. I experience the brisk, swift movements of my fingers across the keyboard, one after another, leaping with joy. Here, in this place of serene satisfaction I behold with an unveiled face the glory of God.

I find myself in this same place as I gaze at the stars... my eyes involuntarily meet the dark, blissful sky -- one large body encircling the spectacular realm, complementing the radiant moon.
...in the embrace of mama's arms.
...seeing a Christmas tree lit in the window from the street.
...smelling the morning dew.
...sitting on the porch with the very words of God in front of my eyes.

"BEHOLD"... my eyes fill with tears as I think about such a place. Who am I to behold such glory? Who am I to look upon the glory of a God who has breathed stars into existence that I cannot even fathom with my unsophisticated mind?

BEHOLD. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
BEHOLD. The Savior of the world in a feeding trough.
BEHOLD. The man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders.

As I anticipate the season of Christmas, I set out on the traditional endeavor to prepare my heart for the celebration of our Savior --- to BEHOLD the glory of God. Should it be any different than other times of the year? No. But the specific beauty of God's glory is what is different. Daily, we see specific aspects, timely appointments, of beholding such beauty. In Scripture, kabod is the greek word that describes God's glory. "Heaviness." I yearn for this place. My heart grows heavy as I behold the splendor of God's glory. THE WHOLE EARTH IS FILLED WITH HIS GLORY.

Over 2000 years ago, God's glory became flesh:
The beauty of a soul in submission to God's perfect will. "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."
The beauty of a willing, servant-hearted carpenter leading a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
The beauty of a filled inn.
The beauty of the aroma of a stable.
The beauty of warm, sweating skin resting against wet, cold hay.
The beauty of an exhausted mother, tightly grasping the hand of an anxious father.
The beauty of angelic voices resounding in the fields of shepherds.
The beauty of blinded eyes beholding the glory of God filling the night sky.
The beauty of the Savior of the world, placed in a manger.

The setting is so simply, so lowly. But the glory of God filled that entire setting. Is this what we treasure? Does the splendor of the birth of our King cause our hearts to rejoice? Mary gathered ALL these things in her heart. She BEHELD the glory of God! This is the place of happiness, of rest, of comfort, of peace, of joy, of splendor. And guess what? THIS is what we were made for. We were created to give Him glory -- to reflect His glory.
Let our hearts become heavy, as we rejoice and BEHOLD the glory of God, and celebrate the incarnation of our Savior.


SDG