Behold The Wonders
"O Lord, open our eyes to behold the wonders of Your intention."
Psalm 119:18 (ESV)
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
During these hectic December days, it's easy to lose sight of the profound mystery we're preparing to celebrate. We rush from store to store, check off our to-do lists, and attend countless holiday gatherings. But amid all this activity, are we truly seeing the wonders of God's intention? The psalmist's prayer echoes our need: "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things." Like a child with their face pressed against a frosted window, we strain to see the beauty beyond. But sometimes, the fog of our daily routines clouds our vision.
God's intention in sending His Son was nothing short of astounding - a plan conceived before the foundation of the world, a rescue mission of cosmic proportions. From the beginning, when sin first entered the world and fractured the perfect relationship between God and humanity, the Father had already set His plan for redemption in motion. This wasn't a hasty reaction to human failure but a deliberate act of love. With unfathomable humility, the Creator of the universe chose to enter His creation as a vulnerable baby. The One who spoke galaxies into existence limited Himself to the gurgles and cries of an infant. The hands that formed the mountains and carved out the seas became tiny fingers grasping for His mother's comfort. The Word, through whom all things were made, became flesh and made His dwelling among us. The infinite became finite, the eternal entered time and the invisible became visible. The God who is everywhere present chose to localize His presence in a specific time and place, in the person of Jesus Christ. This is the miracle of the Incarnation - God's love taking on human form, bridging the chasm between divinity and humanity.
When we truly behold the wonders of God's intention, our perspective shifts, and we begin to see the world through the lens of this astounding truth. The ordinary becomes extraordinary, infused with profound significance. A star in the night sky becomes more than a distant ball of gas - it becomes a signpost, guiding seekers to the newborn King. A humble feeding trough meant for animals becomes a throne cradling the Prince of Peace. Shepherds, often overlooked and marginalized in their society, are recipients of angelic messages and the first witnesses to the most significant event in human history.
And we, in all our human frailty, with all our flaws and failures, become the beloved children of God. The Incarnation reveals the lengths God will go to reconcile us to Himself. We are not distant subjects of a far-off deity, but cherished children welcomed into an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. The stable in Bethlehem declares that God is not content to leave us in our broken state but enters into our mess to bring healing, hope, and transformation. This Advent, may we have eyes to see the wonder of Emmanuel - God with us. May we see His intention of love woven through every moment of our days, transforming the mundane into the miraculous.
Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following questions:
Psalm 119:18 (ESV)
Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
What wonderful things have you overlooked recently? How can you become more aware of His presence and purpose in your daily life this Advent season?