Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 1 Chronicles 16:29 KJV
A thing of beauty is a joy forever; its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness. — John Keats
Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul. — Saint Augustine
People are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. — Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
I have been contemplating characteristics that uniquely differentiate us from the rest of God’s wonderful creation.
For example I think it’s unlikely that horses, cows, whales or frogs have ever made plans for where they will spend their summer vacation — but we do so routinely!
Certainly in the animal kingdom different species find some displays, colors and features attractive, but we humans are unique in recognizing beauty above mere attractiveness, and sometimes we can even perceive beauty in things that might otherwise be considered repulsive!
That’s because we are made in the image and likeness of God Himself.
Beauty, in all its forms, captivates us. From sunsets to mountain tops, flower petals to starry nights, we dedicate countless hours, years, and even our lives to the wonder and pursuit of beauty. We express our devotion through songs and poetry, and we strive to discover if we possess any beauty within ourselves. We are a people driven by an insatiable desire for beauty, a craving that can only be fully satisfied in its Creator.
The desire to behold beauty is an incredible gift bestowed exclusively upon us by our heavenly Father.
Every time we gaze upon something beautiful, we catch a glimpse into the beautiful heart of God. Our God is a perfect creator, crafting beautiful things in every aspect of his being and actions.
So, when we feel a desire to be beautiful or to witness beauty, we are truly yearning for the Almighty, Triune God. We were created with an insatiable longing to behold our Creator in all his power and glory, to stand in awe of his ineffable and indescribable beauty that will endure for eternity.
Additionally, we have a yearning to hear the voice of our heavenly Father, who calls us lovely regardless of how we appear in our own eyes or the eyes of the world with regard to our past actions.
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4 NIV
It should be our purpose to pursue the beauty of God and live in the glorious freedom of boundless communion with him, rather than striving for the superficial, temporary and fleeting attractiveness that this world manufactures.
Questions of whether we are beautiful will only find total fulfillment in the perfect perspective of the one from whom perfect beauty radiates. We will find satisfaction in all that is beautiful by acknowledging beauty that exists because of our beautiful God—limitless and perfect in all he does. His beautifying presence can totally transform seemingly ugly circumstances:
To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. Isaiah 61:3 NLT
In a very lop-sided bargain, He asks us to trade our perception of beauty for His.
We often pray asking the Lord to let us see others with his eyes, the way Jesus sees people. But in the same way it is important to let him tell us individually how he sees us individually.
We can listen as he speaks into the deepest recesses of our hearts and satisfy places the world could never even reach.
How He longs for us to know how beautiful we are to him.
How He longs for us to stand in awe of the wonders of his perfect, true, and unconditional love.
I pray that your time will be marked by clear revelation from the Holy Spirit into the heart of God.
Jesus loves you! You are beautiful!
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/chronicle/?category=Bible%20Study