Beholding to Become

Indentity with Christ

October 26, 2025

Beholding to Become

In our earliest moments of learning language, words are first experienced as sounds tied to images. “Dog” is the sound that represents the lively, furry creature that runs through the house. “Spoon” is the sound attached to the object that carries delicious food to the mouth. With each word, our understanding grows—connecting images with feelings and actions. A single word can stir affection, excitement, or even aversion, because it summons an image shaped by personal experience.

Even abstract concepts can create “sight” in the mind, guiding choices and motivating action. A well-crafted phrase can awaken belief, shape conviction, and inspire movement toward a shared vision. Without vision, action has no direction. But when words paint a picture, they give shape to purpose and make meaningful action possible.

All of creation reflects this truth: everything that came into being first began with a word from God. Light, water, sky, land, plants, the sun, moon, stars, birds, fish, animals, man, and woman—all appeared after being spoken into existence. Words gave them form.

When Jesus came to earth as a man, He was described in John as “the Word” made flesh. He fulfilled everything that was written of Him, stepping fully into the identity declared through the Word of God. Likewise, through that same Word, we discover our God-given identity. Every word of Scripture reveals an image of Christ, and as that image takes shape within us, we reflect His likeness in what we say, do, and accomplish. The Word shines the light of truth into our hearts, forming us into who we were created to be.

Notes

Word-formed images

Genesis 1

Light, water, sky, land, plants, the sun, moon, stars, birds, fish, animals, man, and woman.

Faith planted in imagery - dust

Genesis 13:14-17 (NKJV) 14 And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. 16 And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. 17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”

Stars

Genesis 15:4-6 (NKJV) 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Stars again – and sand – an easy see

Genesis 22:16-17 (NKJV) 16 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

In Christ – beholding of glory in the Word

John 1:14 (NKJV) 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Our identification/partaking is through promises of identity in the Word

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT) 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

“Completely” in need of revelation

Colossians 2:9-10 (NLT) 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Reality of existing reality is in need of imagery exposure/meditation

Ephesians 1:16-21 (TLB) 16 (16-17) I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you wisdom to see clearly and really understand who Christ is and all that he has done for you. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can see something of the future he has called you to share. I want you to realize that God has been made rich because we who are Christ’s have been given to him! 19 I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him. It is that same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in heaven, 21 far, far above any other king or ruler or dictator or leader. Yes, his honor is far more glorious than that of anyone else either in this world or in the world to come.

In the constant exposure – transfer of image to reality

Deuteronomy 6:6-12 (NKJV) 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 10 "So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, 11 houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full— 12 then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Progressive glory in the image of promises

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Doing comes from seeing intentionally

James 1:25 (NKJV) 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Specific line of focus

  • Kept in sight long enough for transfer of exposure.
  • Reinforce with repetition.
  • Respond with corresponding emotion and action.

Beholding and Becoming:

  • I am a new creation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
  • I am forgiven and redeemed by His blood. (Ephesians 1:7)
  • I am the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
  • I am a beloved child of God. (John 1:12)
  • I am chosen, royal, and set apart for His glory. (1 Peter 2:9)
  • I am free in Christ and no longer a slave. (Galatians 5:1)
  • I am God’s masterpiece created with purpose. (Ephesians 2:10)
  • I am more than a conqueror through His love. (Romans 8:37)
  • I am seated with Christ in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6)
  • I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
  • I am loved with an unbreakable love. (Romans 8:38–39)
  • I am the light of the world through Christ in me. (Matthew 5:14)
  • I am complete in Christ, lacking nothing. (Colossians 2:10)

Overview:

1. Power of Words & Images

  • Words create mental images that shape emotion, belief, and action.
  • Vision gives purpose and direction.
  • Word → Image → Emotion → Action.

2. Word-Formed Reality (Genesis 1)

  • All creation began with a spoken word.
  • Words bring unseen things into visible form.

3. Faith Anchored in Imagery (Genesis 13, 15, 22)

  • God gave Abraham visible signs (dust, stars, sand) to root faith in His promise.

4. The Word Made Flesh (John 1:14)

  • Jesus is the Word revealed.
  • We behold His glory and are transformed.

5. Identity Through the Word (2 Peter 1:3–4; Colossians 2:9–10)

  • Promises reveal who we are in Him.
  • We are complete in Christ.

6. Revelation Through Seeing (Ephesians 1:16–21)

  • Spiritual sight releases understanding and power.

7. Constant Exposure (Deuteronomy 6:6–12)

  • Keep the Word before your eyes — speak, write, remember.
  • Long exposure transfers image to lived reality.

8. Beholding and Doing (James 1:25)

  • Seeing leads to doing.
  • Meditation fuels obedience and blessing.

Prayer:

Father, I thank You that Your Word is living and powerful. From the beginning, You spoke, and creation came forth. I choose to keep Your Word before my eyes, in my heart, and on my lips. Let every promise paint a clear image of who You are and who I am in You. Open the eyes of my heart to see as You see. Align my vision with Your Word so that what I behold, I become. Let Your truth shape my thoughts, anchor my faith, and guide my actions. I receive my identity in Christ fully — not by striving, but by believing. Let my life reflect Your glory, and let Your Word bear fruit through me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Declarations

  • I keep God’s Word ever before my eyes. (Deuteronomy 6:6–9)
  • I fix my gaze on Jesus, the Living Word. (Hebrews 12:2)
  • What I behold in the Word, I become in life. (James 1:25)
  • I walk in the promises of God with boldness and clarity. (2 Peter 1:4)