I John 3:1 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:

Behold!  I love that word! 

While no longer found in many translations of the Bible, I find it particularly suitable for identifying thoughts, events, actions, or people that require attention.  It says to me “listen up, pay attention”. 

In scripture, it may point to a warning, but it also speaks of magnificent creation and encompasses wonder and awe.

Here in verse one, it signals the beyond belief love that God chose to give mankind through Jesus Christ.  John the Baptist used the word when he proclaimed Jesus as Messiah – “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). 

John also used the past tense of behold in John 1:14 – “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”  In each of these incidences, the wonder and amazement are centered in the Son of God, Christ Jesus.

While these are not the only places where the world ‘behold’ is used, we can take a message away.  He, Jesus the Christ, is worthy of our awe and wonder. Worthy!

Today may be a good day to spend time beholding our Lord and the great love that He has given us.

A song to help direct our hearts: Behold Our God

Deuteronomy 5:24 And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he lives.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Photo – Living Water, Beth Mims