Beautiful to God

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I had my walk down memory lane this morning as I ventured through old blog posts. I came across this post from last July, and marveled once again at God's unconditional love. I was sick yesterday and am still feeling kinda "mealy" today... so here I sit in sweats looking lovely as ever [;)] and just felt compelled to share this most valuable message of God's unconditional love, I've tweaked the post just a bit, adding a few more thoughts and re-wording others, but here goes:

Beautiful to God


This was the name of my bible study lesson this morning. I had an interesting time chewing on this one. The author gives this verse before the study even begins:"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Isaiah 53:2-3 NIV

I find it interesting that scripture says Jesus wasn't beautiful in the eyes of man so that people would be drawn to him only by his spirit, not his physical beauty. I am so humbled by that. I want for people to be able to say, "Wow! She's a beautiful person" not because of what they see when they look at me, but because of the KIND of person I am. I want others to see a beautiful heart. I think before I became a Christian, I was of the attitude that physical appearance was vital and what others thought of me, the way I looked... was so important. That attitude was a sign of my immaturity and now I see it as vanity. Since I've been blessed with my 2 beautiful children, I've struggled with my weight and sometimes that bums me out. I'm not the skinny "girl" my husband married, but he still loves me and more importantly - the Lord loves me, just as I am. No conditions. The world is such a cruel place sometimes, so much importance is placed on physical beauty but the bible says "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) Thanks for that God!! In a world full of "model-esque" skinny, large chested, blonde haired girls with orange tans - God says that I'm beautiful because he looks at my heart, not my physical appearance. Really what he thinks of me is all that matters when you get down to it - that sure takes a load off. I think trying to look your best is great, but obsessing about your looks or your size just to impress others is pointless. That's not to say that we shouldn't strive to be healthy... but I sometimes wonder why people are surprised that we have so many young women with eating disorders - when such an emphasis is placed on looking like celebrities or super models.

I get annoyed (down right indignant, actually) when I hear people put down others because of their size or especially their color. It may be hard to believe, but I actually know people that do this. Love a person for who they ARE, not what they LOOK LIKE. To look down on someone because of their race is just sick and wrong. I wanna scream to that person, "what makes you superior!!??" Surely not their "white" skin. I guess I would have to say that I believe God is color blind. He just doesn't care if we are green, white, black, red or fuschia. We are made perfect in Christ and he will love us regardless of all the imperfections that the world is so ready to list about us. Anyway... I get really fired up about the subject of discrimination and racism - but whenever I have the opportunity I share my 2 cents with the people I feel I can share it with, as for the others... I pray that I would muster up the courage one day to be bold and stand up to them and open up their eyes to the truth, and the truth is this: God loves us exactly the way we are. We don't have to change our hair, bleach our skin, get rid of our glasses, lose 20 pounds or even try to zap our zits, he loves us "as is." Afterall... he made us and "God doesn't make junk". He says that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." (in HIS image - no less!)

I'm thankful for this reminder today, because it's always good to know that our worth should not be measured by the world, but by God. Afterall, he's not looking at my clothing size or what brand of shirt I'm wearing... he's looking at my heart. I can't begin to understand God's unconditional love, but I'm so thankful for it!! The author finished the study with this statement:

"I pray when we look in the mirror, we will learn to see what God sees and love who He loves."

Indeed! :) I just want you to know... YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!