Beautiful

 

Beauty. The culture is obsessed with it. The world tells us we need to be obsessed with it. They tell us a beautiful outward appearance is essential. But yet the worlds definition of beauty is constantly changing. So we go on the newest diets, exercise often, buy the trendy clothes, and apply the newest makeup brand hoping it will make us truly beautiful. And while it is good to workout and eat healthy for the sake of our health, it is simply not true that we NEED to do ANY of those things to be TRULY BEAUTIFUL.

But what does it mean to be truly beautiful?

The culture around us is obsessed with beauty. It tells us to purchase the latest trendy clothes, dye our hair the new "in" color, and save up for the new makeup brand that will make us look even better. It shows us models and famous people and tells us to look like them, even though they spend their whole lives dedicated to exercise, beauty, and outward appearance. They tell us that how we look on the outside is so important and will define our lives. But NONE of this is true. It is a lie!

So what does define us?

And what is the truth?

The definition of the word beautiful is excellence. The worlds says that excellence is in the exterior and that in order to be pleasing we must please others with our looks and personalities.

But what really is the definition of excellence?

There are so many questions regarding beauty. But where are the answers?

We can always find answers in the holy, reliable, true, and unfading Word of God. So let's delve in and find out what God, the Creator of beauty, has to say about beauty.

What does it mean to be truly beautiful . . .

God tells us that it is a gentle and quiet spirit that is truly beautiful. And not only that it's beautiful, but it is an imperishable beauty! (1 Peter 3:3-4) True beauty is in our conduct and virtues.

What defines us . . .

Our true identity is found in Christ. Only as a true follower of Christ will you have a strong, fulfilling, unwavering identity. If we put our identity in anything else, our circumstances, a career, relationships, school, money, health, etc., we will be disappointed. Those things CANNOT fulfill us. As the Creator, God created us with a need to be satisfied by Him. And nothing else in the world can truly and permanently satisfy us other than Christ. We must find our identity in Him. And when we know who we are in Christ, it doesn't matter what others think of us. Because no matter what they think, say, or believe, we are set apart, chosen, loved, redeemed, and nurtured in Christ! Romans 8 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God! Grasp on to this truth! "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

What is the truth . . .

The truth is you are worth SO much more on the inside than the outside. Physical beauty is not the ultimate beauty to seek after. The internal is more important than the external. Spiritual health and beauty is much more important than physical health and beauty. Don't fall into the snare of believing the lies that you have to please other people or live up to the cultures standard of beauty. We are not living for the acceptance and approval of this world. We are living for the glory of One who is FAR greater than this world, is holy and perfect, loves us unconditionally, and never fails us! 

What is excellence . . . 

The world would tell us excellence is a great career, a big salary, a healthy family, and a comfortable and fun life. But excellence in the Bible is to be wise, loving, godly, righteous, and serving. Strive after these things. Strive after virtue and godly character, and not the world. 2 Peter tells us the things to seek after. " . . . make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

To sum it all up, strive after what God says is truly beautiful.

Proverbs 31:30 says, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."

So seek to be beautiful and lovely on the inside; seek to be pleasing to the Lord; seek to be gentle and humble; seek to be virtuous; seek to fear and serve the Lord; seek imperishable beauty; seek after Christ.