Beauty part 4
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Which means... when we look at ourselves (and each other)... we can (and ought to, and need to) see the beauty inside. Look at 1 Peter 3:3-4, "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." Basically--it's not out beauty that matters, it's inner beauty. Basically, letting the hidden man of the heart be no longer hidden. Letting what's inside come out. When you know and believe that the love of God dwells in you (which, by the way, is how you dwell in God's love for you), that love inside WILL come out. Whatever you believe is inside will come out. That's how faith works. Knowing and believing. Receiving and releasing. Letting God fill us up with His love (He already did that--He always has and always will love us) and then filling ourselves to overflowing with what we've already been filled with. Not worrying about the outside, but focusing on the inside. That which is not corruptible. A meek and quiet spirit. And remember, meekness doesn't mean weakness. Meekness is strength under control. Knowing who you are and what you're about without being loud about it. Not letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing, if I can say it that way. Just quietly going about your business and not worrying about making sure people know. Listen: People are watching. Especially when they know you're a disciple of Jesus. Because--I believe there's one of two reasons. 1. They want to see you slip up so they can say, "Ha! You're not anything special, you're just like me!" Or 2. They want to see if what you have is really anything at all. Which is why it is so important that we let what's inside come out. Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). That's it. That's where the rubber meets the road. That's how people will know what you're about. Either you love people... or you don't. And, listen, I know you can't give what you don't have. How could you? I know that hurting people hurt people. Because you can only give what you DO have. But here's the thing: Loved people love people. When you know better, you can do better. When you understand how beautiful you are (and how beautiful your neighbor is) because you can see how beautiful JESUS is--when you look in the mirror, and when you look at the people you come into contact with--that's when you can BE who you really are. No matter what. You can let other people be who they believe they are, and you can love them no matter what. Now, that doesn't mean you let people walk all over you. Turn the other cheek. Yes. Don't retalitate. Ok. But you don't have to stand there and get abused either. No father (including our heavenly Father) wants his child to be in a bad situation. Being humble, and meek, and quiet, doesn't mean being a doormat. You don't have to accept abuse. Ever. And you shouldn't. If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything. If you're standing on the rock, you will not--cannot--be shaken. When you know how beautiful you are on the inside... that beauty will come out. Naturally. With every breath you take and every move you make. And that is beautiful. Loving people is beautiful. What you do--from the inside--not what you look like--on the outside--is beautiful. The inner man. The hidden man of the heart. The love inside coming out!