Word Count: 734

Contact Jerry Ousley

Behold the Child

by Jerry Ousley  
11/07/2009 / Holidays

I'll never forget seeing my children for the first time. Our first, Jeremy, was like looking at an awesome creation of God. Our second, Megan, was as if I were looking down on a tiny angel. I was with my wife when both of these children were born.

Then came our granddaughter, Saylor. Of course I wasn't in the room when she was born, but I was one of those nervously pacing the floor in the waiting room. I could remember when Saylor's mother, Megan, was born. It hadn't seemed that long ago and now here she was having a little angel of her own.

I gazed upon these children with the longing of a father and the pride of a grandfather. These children would carry on the legacy of Deb and me. They were truly wondrous to behold.

Of course I think our children and our grandchild are the greatest, best-behaved, and prettiest in the world. That's my biased opinion and frankly I think every parent and grandparent should feel the same about their own children.

When the shepherds, and later on, the Magi, visited the infant child Jesus, I'm certain that they had some of these same thoughts. But they had even more reason to be awed to be in the presence of this child. He was not just a beautiful baby lying in a manger, but He was the Messiah the King of kings, the Savior of the world! There was great reason to be impressed and to rejoice. It not only meant that salvation had come, but He would pay the price to finally, after all those centuries, restore man in his proper relationship with God the Father.

The word "behold" means not just to take a quick glance, but to gaze in amazement and to contemplate just what the meaning of what we are seeing is. This Christmas we need to behold the Child. Not just mention His name in a quick prayer at Christmas Dinner, or to simply read the story of the birth of Christ, but to gaze on Him in contemplation of what He means to us.

In this current economy, no matter how bleak things may seem, regardless the fact that most of us will have a lean Christmas because of the lack of money, we can still have the best Christmas we have ever had because we have taken time to behold the Child.

What are we beholding? Are we gazing on the gifts the pretty wrapped boxes under the tree? Are we beholding all the delectable food spread on the table? We may even be beholding the great debt that so many incur during this time of year. What are we beholding?

We must behold the Child! Yes, there is reason to celebrate because the Savior has come into the world, but we must set our priority right. We must realize what and who we are celebrating. When we do we will be forever changed. He alone can give us reason to rejoice when the world says we should be weeping. He only can make our hearts to be merry when all others say we should mourn. He has brought us life in the midst of death. Behold the child!

When the shepherds heard the good news of the infant child, Jesus, they dropped everything. A good shepherd would never leave his sheep. But this was special. They entrusted the flocks in the hands of God and immediately went to behold the Child. Today, this Christmas, let's realize that the most important aspect of our lives is to behold the Child. Let's gaze upon the Savior and what He has done to change our lives.

The story has been told about a little girl one Christmas morning. She had opened all her gifts and tattered, torn paper, ribbons and bows lay scattered on the floor. She turned from playing with her new toys and admiring her pretty dress and picked up a bow from the floor. Putting it on top of her head she said, "Look, I'm a present!" And that she was.

Jesus was the greatest present we could ever receive. But just for a moment, for a fleeting second, let's put a bow on our heads and tell Jesus, "Look, I'm a present!" Let's make our greatest gift to be our own lives dedicated to Him, as we behold the Child.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! Click here and TRUST JESUS NOW

Read more articles by Jerry Ousley

Like reading Christian Articles? Check out some more options. Read articles in Main Site Articles, Most Read Articles or our highly acclaimed Challenge Articles. Read Great New Release Christian Books for FREE in our Free Reads for Reviews Program. Or enter a keyword for a topic in the search box to search our articles.

Enter comments below. Due to spam, all hyperlinks posted in the comments are now immediately disabled by our system.

Please type the following word below:

Not readable? Change text.

The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Hire a Christian Writer, Christian Writer Wanted, Christian Writer Needed, Christian Content Needed, Find a Christian Editor, Hire a Christian Editor, Christian Editor, Find a Christian Writer