God has not hidden Himself. From the beginning, He has been making Himself known—revealing His character, His ways, and His purposes through many different “windows.” Each one offers a true glimpse of who He is. Yet no single window gives the whole picture.

If we only look through one, our understanding of God can become narrow or distorted. But when we learn to look through them together, our vision becomes clearer, fuller, and more compelling. And as Scripture teaches, what we behold begins to shape who we become.

1. Creation – Beholding His Power and Beauty

When we slow down enough to notice, creation is constantly speaking. The vastness of the sky, the rhythm of the ocean, the intricacy of a leaf, and the order woven into the natural world all reveal something about God. Here we behold His power, wisdom, and beauty. We behold Him in creation when we move beyond passing glances and begin to pay attention with wonder—asking, “What does this reveal about the One who made this?”

Scripture:

“The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.” (Psalm 19:1–2)

Creation is not silent—it is constantly “speaking,” pointing beyond itself to the Creator.

Impact: This window awakens awe, worship, and humility. It reminds us that God is great, and we are part of something He has beautifully designed.

2. Scripture – Beholding His Voice and His Story

If creation tells us that God is there, Scripture tells us who He is. Through the Bible, God speaks. We see His character, His ways, and His unfolding plan to redeem and restore. We watch how He responds to people, how He remains faithful, and what He desires for those who follow Him. Here we behold His voice, His truth, and His purposes. We behold God in Scripture when we slow down, meditate, ask questions, and allow His Word to confront and shape us.

Scripture:

• “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

• “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)

After His resurrection, Jesus walked with two disciples and opened the Scriptures to them. As He did, their hearts came alive—they began to see God’s story in a whole new way.

Impact: This window produces clarity and alignment. It grounds us in truth and ignites our hearts with understanding.

3. Jesus Christ – Beholding God Made Visible

All of Scripture finds its clarity in Jesus. “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)   In Him, we behold the character of God lived out in human life. We see compassion for the broken, authority over evil, humility in service, and truth spoken with clarity and grace. We behold Jesus by watching Him closely in the Gospels—how He responds to people, how He handles pressure, how He walks with the Father.

Scripture:

• “A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.” (Mark 1:40–42)

In this moment, Jesus does what others would not—He touches the untouchable. We see the heart of God toward the broken.

Impact: This window produces imitation. As we behold Jesus, we begin to live like Him.

4. The Cross – Beholding the Heart of God

If we want to see most clearly what God is like, we look at the cross. There we behold His love, His justice, His mercy, and His sacrifice. We behold the cross when we slow down, remember, reflect, and allow it to reshape us.

Scripture:

• “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

• “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:24)

The cross is not abstract—it is deeply personal. Jesus gave Himself for us.

Impact: This window produces humility, gratitude, and love, softening our hearts and reorienting our lives.

5. The Holy Spirit – Beholding God’s Living Presence

God is not only revealed in the past—He is present now. Through the Holy Spirit, we behold His nearness, guidance, and transforming work within us. We behold Him through prayer, listening, and responding.

Scripture:

• “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth… He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” (John 16:13–14)

The Spirit takes what belongs to Jesus and makes it real to us—helping us truly see and know Him.

Impact: This window produces intimacy and daily guidance, helping us walk with God in real time.

6. The People of God – Beholding Christ Reflected in Others

God makes Himself visible through His people. In others, we behold reflections of Christ’s character—love, generosity, unity, perseverance. We behold Him here through authentic community.

Scripture:

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship…
All the believers were together and had everything in common…
They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts…
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42–47)

The early church was not just teaching truth—they were living it. And through their shared life, people saw something of God.

Impact: This window produces encouragement, growth, and formation through relationships.

7. Providence and History – Beholding His Faithfulness Over Time

God reveals Himself through the unfolding of life. Often, we don’t see it in the moment. But looking back, we begin to recognize His hand. Here we behold His faithfulness and sovereignty.

Scripture:

• “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

Joseph looks back over betrayal, suffering, and injustice—and sees that God was working all along.

Impact: This window produces deep trust, helping us believe that God is at work even when life is difficult.

8. Personal Encounters with God – Beholding Him in Direct and Transformative Ways 

Throughout Scripture and history, people have had powerful, personal encounters with God that changed their lives. In these moments, we behold God’s presence, His voice, His will, and His call in deeply personal ways.

One of the clearest examples is the conversion of Apostle Paul:

Scripture:

• “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.” (Acts 9:3–5)

In a single encounter, everything changed—Paul’s direction, his understanding of God, and his entire life mission.

We behold God in this window when we remain open and responsive to His personal work in our lives.

Impact: This window produces radical transformation, calling, and renewed vision, often marking turning points in a believer’s journey.

9. The Heavenly Throne, the Second Coming of Christ, and the Judgment Seat – Beholding His Rule, His Return, and His Justice

Scripture—especially the Book of Revelation—lifts our eyes beyond the present to ultimate reality. God is reigning. Christ will return. Every life will be brought into the light. We live before the throne, toward His return, and accountable to His judgment.

Scripture:

• “At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it…
  Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.’” (Revelation 4:2, 8)

• “Look, he is coming with the clouds… and every eye will see him.” (Revelation 1:7)

• “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

This window shows us reality as it truly is—not just what we see on earth.

Impact: This produces reverence, hope, and urgency. It anchors us in eternity and gives weight to how we live now.

The Invitation of Beholding

Each of these windows reveals something true about God. But together, they allow us to see Him more fully:

• powerful yet personal

• holy yet compassionate

• just yet merciful

• reigning yet near

As we intentionally behold Him through these windows—again and again—something begins to change within us. Our desires shift. Our thinking is renewed. Our lives begin to align with His. Because this is the promise: “We all… beholding the glory of the Lord… are being transformed into the same image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)  Beholding is not passive. It is attentive, relational, and responsive. And over time: what we behold, we become.