Beautiful. Who determines what is beautiful? Is it society...who show us through films, advertisements, and television what is considered lovely? Maybe it is the judges who chose the woman that's wearing the crown in a beauty pageant. Maybe it is the proud parent who KNOWS that their child is the most gorgeous child that ever lived. Or the newly smitten boy/girl who is sure that their new sweetheart is the most heavenly thing on the face of the earth. People can make us feel beautiful.
There is another side to that coin. What if you don't have anyone around to remind you how beautiful you are? What if no one ever told you that you were pretty...or handsome? What if no one has ever noticed what a radiant smile you had...because they had never seen you smile? There are individuals who have only been criticised and ridiculed their entire life. They believe they are anything but beautiul. People can also make us feel ugly.
Humans judge the beauty or worth of someone based upon their outward appearance. But let's look at it a little deeper. How does God see us? What does He think when He looks at us?
The Bible says that Samuel was looking for God's anointed one that was to be king. He was looking at all of these rugged, strong men. Surely God's man was among them! God told him, " "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) God led Samuel not to the rugged warriors...but to the lowly shepherd boy, David. He was to be the leader of God's people. God knew David's heart. He knew that although he didn't look strong and wise on the outside, he was a man after God's own Heart. The Lord knew what Samuel...or even David, didn't. He judged what man could not see.
Don't judge a book by it's cover. The veneer could fool you. It could be a gorgeous leather bound edition with gold trim, and the inside of the volume could be filthy and unreadable. Then, you could have an old, tattered cover that houses within it's binding, a valuable treasure. I don't know if I agree with the phrase, "Beauty is only skin deep." I believe it's much deeper than that. Beauty radiates from within. Many people may outwardly look lovely, but have ugliness at their core. Their hateful heart makes them offensive to everyone. Then, there are others who might not seem becoming in other's eyes, who have the most gorgeous hearts that beat within their chest.
We are like that tattered book. To God, we are the treasure. He sees us as magnificent masterpieces that He created in His own Image. He knows everything about us, and doesn't judge us as others do. He knows every fascinating cell in our body. He loves us as we are. Even when we think we aren't worth anything...He proves us wrong. When we believe what others told us, that we do not matter...He proves them wrong. For God thought we were beautiful enough...worthy enough to send His Son to die for our sins, because He wanted us to be able to live with Him forever. Nothing ugly could ever enter Heaven. No matter what color my eyes are...or how my nose is shaped...He loves me and you because He sees what no one else can. He sees the real us. Purify your heart today. Give your life over to the God who made you and loves you like no one else can. He's knocking at the door of your heart. Let Him in.
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