The following is a feature article in the January/February edition of Reflections magazine available from Ladies Ministries.
Have you ever wondered what it means to be
“fearfully” made? Surely the message of this verse is not that people are
frightful, although this is sometimes the case when I roll out of the sheets with
a bodacious case of “bed head.” While each of us would do well to greet a
hairbrush in the morning, what this verse indicates is that God’s creation –
you and me – should be held in awe and inspire praise!
Being wonderfully made means (drum roll,
please) we are made wonderfully! The
wonder of our “divine design” should arouse genuine admiration — feelings of
pleasure and approval. We’re not talking about egocentric self-love, but the satisfaction
that comes from knowing we bear the fingerprints of God! The works of God are
marvelous. That includes you and me: each of us a one-of-a-kind Master-piece.
Ladies,
Scripture declares it! Jesus made you and me awesome, wonderful and marvelous! We
may not always appreciate the beauty in the reflection we see in our mirrors,
but shouldn’t we agree with God’s appraisal? He likes what He made; and after
all, true beauty is in the eye of the Creator.
Now,
here's a really awe-inspiring concept! No matter what you and I look like on
the outside, we each have the same equal
opportunity to be beautiful people.
Peter
taught Christian ladies to refrain from the outer adornment and decoration
techniques practiced in their culture. Instead they should pursue the inner,
unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit (I Peter 3:3-4). Unfading beauty cannot be based on physical
attributes. No matter how we look today, if we keep breathing long enough,
gravity and time will have their way on our skin, hair and other features.
Timeless beauty is based on
virtue and is the antithesis of the youthful ideal promoted in our culture. Inner
beauty improves with age and experience. It’s possible to be a more beautiful
person at 60 than you were at 16.
"Charm
is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be
praised" (Proverbs 31:30, NIV). The desire for outward attractiveness comes naturally in our
human packaging, but it's
clear God places a higher value on character than attractiveness.
In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrased Peter’s counsel to women
with unsaved husbands. He assured them they would be “captivated” by their lives of “holy beauty” (I Peter 3:1-4, MSG). I
like that – holy beauty that captivates others! He went on to say, “Cultivate
inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.”
Continuing
with Peter’s writings: "For this is the way the holy women of the past who
put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive
to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her
master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to
fear” (I Peter 3:5-6, NIV).
Sarah
was physically attractive. Her beauty so concerned her husband he lied about
their relationship to protect his life. Sarah wasn't perfect. She made mistakes
and even laughed at God's promise, but Peter wrote that her obedience and
respect made her beautiful.
If
we are Sarah's daughters, we will do as she did: 1) what is right, and 2) not
give way to fear. It seems much of the driving force behind "becoming
beautiful" or maintaining a youthful appearance is based in fear – a fear
that we aren't good enough or might lose our “edge.” My sisters, let’s do what's
right and not give in to fears that stem from deep-rooted needs for security
fostered by a ravenous multi-billion dollar beauty industry.
You
have probably heard your mom say, “Pretty is as pretty does” or its companion
clause, “Don’t act ugly!” Our conduct affects the perception of beauty we
transmit to others. It’s a fact that outer beauty draws attention, but
character captures and keeps admiration and affection. A person of beautiful
character brings beauty to her world.
We
may never measure up to the standards of beauty promoted in our culture, but in
addition to being the awesome, wonderful, marvelous creations God made us to
be, we can choose to be radiant. “Those who look to him are radiant” (Psalm
34:5, NIV). God’s Spirit in us brings a glow that no cosmetic can compete with,
and purity is as pretty as pretty can be. If we treasure the beautiful Word of
God in our inner selves, we will radiate beauty outwardly! Listen and glisten! “The
splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect” (Ezekiel 16:14, NIV).
One
final consideration I leave with you. Was Jesus beautiful? It’s written in
Isaiah 53:2, “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance
that we should desire him.” God could have created the most magnificent body
for Himself, but according to the Word, Jesus was an average looking person.
When
He was arrested and beaten beyond recognition, Jesus was less than lovely to
look upon, but He was never more beautiful. As we put our faith in God and
follow Jesus’ footsteps in humility, we will gain a beauty that is far more
than the sum of our physical parts. Obedience is always beautiful. True beauty
shines form a Christ-like heart!
3. This is one of my life verses. It goes along with Point 4: I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler (Isaiah 60:17b). What does a governor do? They are heads of state. So if you get in a state of confusion . . . or a state of distress . . . make peace your head of state!
