Infinitum Advent Behold Beauty, Week 1Sample

The shepherds were on the margins of society at the time. They were left out of all the places God was presumed to be. Their work prevented them from worshiping at the temple because they were considered unclean. They were the outcasts of society. But in the Christmas story, love chased them down in the darkness and ventured out to the outskirts of society with a heavenly invitation to behold Him. “A Savior has been born to you, ” the angels said. Can you imagine? When they likely felt unseen by God and others, love chased them down and was born to them. Of course, they had to see it for themselves. This extravagant love compelled them to become beauty chasers - hurrying off to behold beauty in the flesh. And when they found Him there in the manger, they were seen, known, and loved by God. And it transformed them. It’s wonderful how Dr. Curt Thompson describes how this happens, > “ Beauty gives us the experience of being seen, known, and loved by God. And when I do , we become more fully alive to who we really are - the beauty within. It is then that we become like the true evangelists we are - shining like a city on a hill.” The shepherds did what we all do when we have an encounter with beauty—they couldn’t help but share it with others. When we allow beauty to behold us, we experience being seen, known, and loved by God. In those moments, we can become so filled with wonder that we become like a “city on a hill” and radiate the glow of divine love to those around us. Consider something for just a moment—when was the last time you had an encounter with beauty that made you feel seen, known, and loved by God? Did you share it with others? We invite you today to seek out beauty as the shepherds did—and allow it to lead you to wonder, worship, awe, and astonishment. Then, share your experience with someone like the shepherds did.