3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
1 Peter 3:3-4
Wait! Men! Don’t leave!!!
I always wonder how many guys skip these verses because it starts, “Don’t wear fancy hair, jewelry, or clothes?”
Of course, it’s not just the men. Half of the women checked out when they saw the words, “Wives submit…” in verse one of First Peter 3. Some weren’t wives, so they figured it didn’t apply, and the rest don’t like it when the Bible says submit–but we’ll save the submission topic for another day.
I’m hoping everyone stayed with me, because I truly believe the entire Christian community needs to embrace the unfading beauty of their inner self. (Yes, even the gentlemen!)
The problem is most of us don’t realize we’re beautiful. How can you embrace what you don’t know you have?
As lovers of Jesus, we should remind someone every day, “You are created in the image of God.” (Genesis 1:26) If we believed that, wouldn’t we undeniably understand that we are beautiful?
Maybe you said, “I believe I’m created in the image of God, but you don’t know what I’ve done to mar the image.”
Well, perhaps you don’t believe the blood of Jesus Christ covers all your mistakes and scars. (Revelation 1:5; Hebrews 10:19; 1 John 1:7) If you have invited Jesus to be your Savior, your sins have been removed from you. (Psalm 103:12) God doesn’t see them anymore. You are beautiful.
Have you experienced Christians who seem to glow? Their physical features will never put them in a beauty pageant; yet, their countenance radiates beauty. A short conversation might reveal a background that would shame a sailor, but because of the loveliness that shines from them, you never would have guessed it.
That’s a person who has embraced his or her true identity in Jesus.
Embracing and living in your inner beauty brings with it ripples of blessings:
- The Holy Spirit has more room to work within you as you abandon the lies that you are a mess or not worthy of God’s image.
- You receive the gift of freedom because you no longer let your past, your future, or your family define your value.
- That freedom allows confidence and joy to bubble up within you.
- Others see your freedom, confidence, joy, and the other fruit of the Spirit and become curious about what makes you so beautiful.
What do you miss out on every day because you don’t believe the truth of scripture? How would your life change if you recognized you have an inner beauty just waiting to come out?
You have so much potential!
Give up the lies. Cling to Christ’s truth.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of your Creator. (Psalm 139:14)
And He loves you more than you can imagine.
