Behold and Be Held
When life changes, be grateful.
Late evening had arrived. We stood together with the kitchen counter between us, holding two mugs of hot chocolate. The day had been rich, festive in fact: worshipping, sharing lunch with family and friends, and lighthearted conversations. Easter Sunday brought us together for the special day, one that stretched into the afternoon and then lead into the late evening. Now that we had returned home, there was time for a conversation about her future life, the loss of her grandmother, her home relationships, and the peace found in the day we had just shared.
Today, I reflect back on our late evening conversation, and a single word resonates.
Gratitude—
It changes who you are because it’s an active, working, way to live. Challenges come, yes, but when we see them as growth, not difficulties, as blessings, even in the hard parts, then we begin to live differently.
Gratitude—
Allow it to become habit. See possibilities rather than disruptions, for we are to continually praise the Lord. See, not through lens that are obstructed but through the lens of opportunity. Focus not on what’s broken but upon what’s currently working. Unsee the struggles but see the gift of life, of the single day the Lord has provided.
Gratitude—
See not the distance you still need to traverse but see how far you have come. See the lessons gained and not what has been lost because life change happens as we live, as we age, as calendar days unfold. See and behold the Lamb of God, for wherever we place our spiritual eyes and whatever we behold, we will be held by.
“The LORD sat as King at the flood;
(The Psalms 29: 10-11 NASB)
Yes, the LORD sits as King forever.
The LORD will give strength to His people;
The LORD will bless His people with peace.”
Jesus walked into a chaotic world and willingly laid down His life for humanity. By His perfect sacrifice, we have been made holy; through His death, we are made whole. When John the Baptist walked along the Jordan River, he walked as the forerunner, proclaiming the Good News to come, he baptized, he preached, he prophesized the coming Lord. The Levites were sent by the Pharisees to question John, and he confessed that he was not the Christ but the one who was sent as the voice. They asked John if he was the Christ or Elijah or even a prophet, but then John spoke of the way he baptized and about the One to come. John answered their questions, and then,
“The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him and said,
(The Gospel According to John 1: 29 and 34 NASB)
“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
. . .
I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
Present tense: You come; You see; Jesus takes.
To see with spiritual sight is to see Jesus as He is, lovely and satisfying.
As we do, we whisper a prayer of Gratitude.
Thank you, God, for Jesus, for His mission, for His salvation, and for His calling to come follow Him. God, thank you for His death, for His resurrection, and for His throne. Help us to follow Him, to trust Him and to walk with Him, for as we do, we become more like Him. Lord, we are so grateful for Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God. Amen.
Thus, as the night came to an end, we talked, and she spoke about her stress, her upcoming graduation, her parents, and the relationship with her brother. Then she talked about her grandmother who had passed. There, as she spoke, was happiness, consternation, and sorrow: Happiness for the opportunity her parents provided for her to study abroad; consternation for the actions and attitudes of her younger brother; and deep sorrow for the loss of her mother’s mother—her grandmother, the one who would be absent at her upcoming graduation. Loss.
It is sometimes difficult to feel Gratitude when one feels deep loss.
Therefore, I shared about the only One who offers Hope.
I spoke about His works, His strength, and His peace.
To this end, we are able to see the words of the psalmist who sang a song of remembrance, reminding each of us WHY we are to continue in Gratitude.
“Come, behold the works of the LORD,
(The Psalms 46: 8-11 NASB)
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
“Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.”
On this day after Resurrection Sunday, a Monday, and a second Easter as some call it, may we simply behold the Lamb of God, for whatever we behold, we will be held by.