A Person Becomes What They Behold

​This old saying has more of a biblical background than many people realize.  Jacob knew how to create his flock by making a deal with Laban, whose flock Jacob was in charge of keeping (Genesis 30:29-33).  Jacob begins to place branches of poplar, almond, and plane trees where the flocks mated (Genesis 30:37).  The lambs born during this event were streaked, speckled, and spotted, so Jacob was able to keep them according to his deal with Laban (Genesis 30:39-40).  The idea of becoming what one beholds is not only present when being around people, but what one beholds gets within that person and typically gives birth to whatever that something is.  When people are around lawless, rebellious, or religious people it will breed lawlessness, rebellion, and religiosity.  When people are around clean, holy, and biblical people it will breed cleanliness, holiness, and a living epistle of the Word of God.  Bad people corrupt good character (1 Corinthians 15:33).  When seeking to live for God, people must surround themselves with others who walk with God.  Religious people who have a form of godliness but deny the power of God in their lives can only produce people of the same caliber (2 Timothy 3:5).  The fruit of one’s life is the revealing agent of who they truly are in character (Matthew 7:16, 20).  This, among many other reasons, is why every person needs to find a local church with a local pastor God has called them to not just attend but to be part of the body of believers there.  People will make sacrifices for their kids or themselves to the college they dream of, save money for the vehicle they dream of, or work hard to get the position at work they dream of, but many will not invest in ensuring they surround themselves with godly people to remain godly in an ungodly world.  With the world so full of ungodliness and anti-Christ agendas, Christians need to have uncompromised, the Word of God living, bold people of God to be around so their faith in God and belief in His Word does not diminish.  When people behold a lukewarm social gathering, they will adapt themselves to that gathering.  When people behold a hiding sin in the closet leader, they will begin to hide sin in their closet.  But when people behold an imperfect, quick-to-repent, Bible-speaking, and Bible-believing leader, they will follow suit (1 Timothy 3:1-13).  This type of leader should be found within the home, on the job, within the government, and especially within the church.  Christians do not need a person to become another idol or cool trendsetter, they need a holy man or woman of God to lead them in the paths of righteousness that will help not only their eternity but their present state of living (Hebrews 13:7).  Pastor Titus Maraifu from Africa has said, “To be great one must rub elbows with greatness”.  To apply it here, a person becomes what they behold.  Christians must behold the holy God they declare they serve (1 Peter 1:16).  They should allow the Holy Spirit to be within them making the changes and leading them throughout their lives.  Beholding the Holy Spirit will make that person holy (Romans 8:14; John 16:13; Galatians 5:16).  May Christians no longer behold the world, its culture, and anti-Christ doctrines but may Christians everywhere behold God through a relationship with Jesus Christ, God’s Word, and His Spirit to be the people of God He has planned for them to be.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.