Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious (Memorial)
Behold, the Lamb of God. (John 1:36)
It can be easy to miss Jesus. Just ask John the Baptist. John knew he had been called to prepare the way for the Messiah. He was even Jesus’ kinsman! But still, by his own admission, John “did not know him” (John 1:31). He didn’t fully understand Jesus’ mission. But with time and insight from God, John did come to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and was able to proclaim, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (1:36).
We may not always recognize Jesus as clearly as John did. Yet just like John, we, too, can grow in our awareness, little by little.
Behold, the Lamb of God. Make it a goal to greet Jesus the moment you first wake up. All it takes is a simple “Good morning, Lord!” He delights to see you starting your day with even the briefest of conversations with him.
Behold, the Lamb of God. This morning greeting can be a great lead-in to a quiet time of meditation. Even if it’s only five minutes, a regular time of prayer will help you grow more familiar with Jesus—who he is, how he speaks to you.
Behold, the Lamb of God. Once the onslaught of the day begins, you might struggle. There’s an office to get to or errands to run or a house to clean. In the midst of these everyday challenges, Jesus doesn’t want you to forget that he is with you. At a couple of points today, take a moment to acknowledge the Lord who is “walking by” you (John 1:36). Maybe you can keep a prayer card on your desk. Or perhaps you can take a few minutes to open your Bible while you eat lunch.
Behold, the Lamb of God. In the evening, you might hit a point when you’re ready to unwind. You made it through the day—and you did it with God’s help. Before going to sleep, you can pause to thank Jesus for how he was with you today. You can look back and try to recall one or two ways that he blessed you with his peace or his guidance.
Jesus, the Lamb of God, is with you. He loves it when you notice him, just a little more each day!
“Jesus, thank you for being with me always.”
1 John 3:7-10
Psalm 98:1, 7-9
Daily Marriage Tip for January 4, 2018:
Now that the busyness of Christmas is starting to die down, why not start the new year right by planning a regular weekly family night? Be creative about spending some quality time together for wholesome bonding.