Forty Days of Proclamation: Behold the Lamb

The Word of the Lord to me for the past several years has been “Behold the Lamb.” To be honest, I have felt a little intimidated as I have tried to condense what could be a book into a short devotional. As I prayed asking what the Lord would have me say, he reminded me of a vision I had 35 years ago. It is just as fresh today as it was then and encapsulates what Behold the Lamb means to me. The scene opens and I am standing in a bank of fog on a what appeared to be a stage. I am standing face to face with Jesus. We are embraced as a couple on a dance floor. I am unaware of anything beyond the depth of love, tenderness, strength, and steadfastness imparted as I gaze into his eyes. We begin to dance. He is the perfect partner. I never had to wonder where to place my foot or how to follow his lead. I was completely at rest in his arms. As we danced, the fog began to lift and I became aware that we were dancing through valleys, over mountain tops, through beautiful meadows, and along gently flowing streams. Regardless of the terrain, be it tranquil or challenging, I never had a misstep, the path we took was inconsequential. I was too lost in the love of my partner to take notice. As we continued to dance I felt the Lord speak to my heart that this was a picture of my life. There would be times when I would be in lush, peaceful pastures, and times when I would be in some harsh, challenging mountains. Regardless of my circumstances, I could be assured that as long as I kept my eyes fixed on him I would dance through life in peace and rest. I have had some challenging seasons along this journey called life. At times I have let my focus drift to my circumstances, only to be robbed of peace and driven to “do” something. I lost rest because I started to strive. Then the gracious hand of the Lord would reach out to me and engage me in his love dance. The kindness of the Lord would lead me to repentance followed by the assurance that he was The Way in and through all my circumstances. I just needed to Behold the Lamb. For the past five years we have been in a challenging season. My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. There is not much one can “do” in their own strength when a diagnosis is given that the doctors say they have no cure for. When we were in the doctor’s office and he delivered the results of the biopsies and the grim news of no cure, the Holy Spirit shot a load of faith into us that is hard to explain. After listening to all that doctor said, I told him that we are BUT GOD people. Nothing is impossible for God. We knew he would do all he knew to do, but ultimately, Rich life and the number of his days was in God’s hands. Jesus engaged me in the dance like never before. Both my husband and I were supernaturally invigorated. We didn’t feel like we left the office under a death sentence, we were born under that. We felt like we had been given the opportunity to expereince the Glory of God beyond anything we had previously known. I could write a book on all the words the Lord has given us over the last five years. We have had very credible leaders in the body of Christ who have prophesied life and healing over Rich. The Lord has given us many scriptures to pray and declare. There are believers all over the world who are standing with us praying for Rich believing God meant what he said. We are living Romans 4:18-21 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be. Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Every day I have the opportunity to choose. I choose to Behold the Lamb. I choose to run this race with perseverance, fixing my eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. I choose joy. I choose trust. I choose to worship and not despair. I choose to believe. I choose to rest. I choose to war on Rich’s behalf. I choose to empty myself and ask Holy Spirit to fill me afresh. I’m not saying that there are no hard days, there are. My husband dropped out cold walking across that patio last June as I was bringing him home from the hospital. He had a double pulmonary embolism. Most people don’t get up when that happens. They are gone. While sitting in the parking lot of the ER waiting two hours for a word about his condition, Jesus told me Rich would be fine, he had given me his word. I believed him. Circumstances can be hard, but God is always good. Behold the Lamb. Gaze upon his beauty. Lose yourself in the wonder that the God who created all things seen and unseen knows you and calls you by name. He is relentless in his pursuit of you. He has given his life for you. He has shed his blood for you. He became a curse for you. He presented himself as a lamb to be slaughtered taking unto himself every sin that had been or would be committed. He allowed his body to be beaten and torn for our diseases. He took it all to the grave and rose triumphantly having conquered all. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world … and gives you everything in exchange. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21