Topic: Take Time to Behold Jesus at Christmas [RICK WARREN Devotional 22 December 2022]
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Take Time to Behold Jesus at Christmas
BY RICK WARREN — DECEMBER 22, 2022
FROM BEHOLD! THE BEST NEWS EVER
“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:9-11 (ESV)
There’s a big difference between glancing at something and gazing at something. When you gaze at something, you’re doing what the angel instructed the shepherds to do—you’re beholding it.
At Christmastime, most people will give God a glance. They might start humming “O Come, Let Us Adore Him” because it’s playing on the store speakers as they do their Christmas shopping. Or they notice the nativity scene someone has placed in their home, with baby Jesus at the center, and they give it a glance.
During the busyness of the Christmas rush, not taking time to behold the best news ever can be easy.
What is the best news—the Good News—that God wants you to behold this Christmas?
It’s this: You are not an accident. Your parents may not have planned you, but God planned you. God made you to love you. If God had not wanted to love you, then he wouldn’t have created you. You wouldn’t be taking your next breath!
The 80 or so years you have on Earth are short compared to eternity. In fact, this life is preparation for eternity. God wants you to live with him forever in heaven, but to do that, you’ve got to have a relationship with him here on Earth.
How do you have a relationship with God? It starts with beholding him.
It’s the message the angel brought to the shepherds on that first Christmas: “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2:9-11 ESV).
Behold, God came to Earth. That’s a big deal! At Christmas, God became a human so we could see what he’s really like.
You can know a lot of things about God just by looking at creation. But there are some things you’d never know about God if it weren’t for Jesus. If Jesus hadn’t come to Earth, you wouldn’t know that God loves you, forgives you, and has a purpose for your life.
If you want to know what God is like, take a long look at Jesus. He is the full picture of God’s grace.
Behold your Savior. Then you can make him Lord of your life.
Talk It Over
- In practical terms, what does it mean to behold Jesus?
- What are the distractions that keep you from beholding Jesus at Christmas?
- How will you make a relationship with God your priority during the Christmas rush?
Make Jesus your Lord today
Have you ever opened your heart to Jesus and received the salvation he offers? If not, there’s no better time than this Christmas season to do that. If you’re ready to make Jesus your Lord today, pray this prayer:
“Dear God, I hear you knocking at the door of my heart, and I want to open it up to you. I confess that I have sinned and that I need your forgiveness and mercy. Thank you for loving me so much that you sent Jesus to die for my sins, so that I can be forgiven.
“Jesus, you promised that anyone who believes in you will not perish but have everlasting life and eternity with you in heaven. I believe in you and accept you as my Lord and Savior. I want to allow you into all the rooms of my heart and spend the rest of my life serving you. Amen.”
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