ISAIAH 40:9-11 – “Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”
THEME OF THE DAY: BEHOLD OUR GOD. Nestled into today’s scripture are three words, actually, three words of instruction in the form of a command that everyone of us should heed on a regular basis. They are BEHOLD YOUR GOD. It is making unhurried time to be with the Lord, before the Lord, looking upon the Lord in prayer and His Word, which is essential to good spiritual health. It is also a necessity to know Him, and to know Him is to love Him, worship Him, serve Him, and be conformed into His image. And there lies the danger. We know this truth. We know spending time with the Lord is important, yet, we struggle.
In today’s nugget, let’s identify three areas that wage intense warfare in our lives with the objective of preventing us from beholding our God.
First, busyness. It isn’t just internet speeds that are fast. Too often life is lived at breakneck speed, and sadly, self-imposed busyness, steals precious time away to be still and behold or know God . . .
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10).
A second danger keeping us from beholding our God is misplaced priorities. Right now, answer this question – Is my number one priority my relationship with Jesus Christ with Him holding the highest place in my affections and shaping every area of my life? And here is another question that reveals priorities. Could we pray the following prayer as the Psalmist did with all sincerity and transparency?
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25).
Finally, something that is the common area of battle for all Christians is the fight for a life of self-discipline. It is saying “no” to the devil, the world, and our flesh that is always seeking the easy way, the comfortable way, and the convenient way to spiritual growth or beholding our God in His Word and prayer. It is exhorted to us by the Apostle Paul’s words and example . . .
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).
Beholding our God. It is going to be our source of joy and pleasure throughout eternity. May the Lord help us to enjoy Him in this life as a foretaste of the next.
PRAYER: Father, protect me from my greatest enemy – self – and its pull to keep me from beholding You.
REFLECTION: If we don’t win the battle to behold God, we will lose nearness to Him and our witness for Him.