The Standard of Beauty

-


“God does not give us a standard of beauty, He gives us a spouse.” - Mark Driscoll

 I absolutely love this quote.  Our standard of beauty lies within our significant other, that is, we should only have eyes for the one we gave our word and bond to.  I’ve thought about this and it makes absolute sense.  Are there “beautiful” people out there that catch our eye, well yes, of course there are, but beauty is deeper than mere appearances.  In Scripture God tells Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The LORD does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”[1] The heart is where true beauty resides.  It is from here where our identity manifests itself, whether that may be good or bad. Are we selfish, conceited, mean? Or do we sincerely want to help others? And what do those “pretty” people that catch your eye really know about you anyway? 

My beauty of 2 years
Beauty within marriage is not only the physical and externals of the relationship, but also what is produced through emotional devotion.  It’s those shared experiences, vulnerabilities, the gut-wrenching laughter, and quiet moments together that create a deep lasting beauty that far exceeds any physical attraction.  Because you know what, physical beauty is short-lived.  All will slowly deteriorate, droopy boobs, sagging eyes, big ears and nose, hair coming out of every orifice, it’s not pretty, but you know what is, growing together and holding each other up in those moments of doubt and stress, being there for one another to share life’s wonders.  “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”[2] To fear the Lord is to know his power, majesty, holiness, and mystery. One cannot be self-absorbed when they truly fear God, for they know Him as both savior and judge.  The bottom line, stick with it, you’re not alone, your spouse has your back, and if not, God is ALWAYS there to bring about peace and that inner beauty that is the true mark of a godly spirit and life.

[1] 1 Samuel 16:7
[2] Proverbs 31:30

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pray, Do Not Be Anxious

-
Image
Do not be anxious, rather pray.   Jesus made it possible for us to do so.   There was a giant chasm between God and us because of sin.   He is so holy, that sin cannot be in his presence, but Jesus has covered this sin, this stain, making us able to once again have communion with God.   Jesus is our mediator, our advocate.   When preparing this post and looking at what prayer is, it reminded me of a book I read called, The Necessity of Prayer by Edward Bounds.   His largest section and most influential was his work on prayer and faith.   As it should be, faith is the Christian anchor in prayer and touches every other aspect of our life.   Faith is obedient, trusting, and every other positive aspect.   Not only influential but also instructive in his writing, Bounds shows how Christians should pray by stating that, “faith must be definite, specific; an unqualified unmistakable request for the things asked for.” [1]   How true it is that we all too often pray for the grandio
Read more

Oh LORD, You're So Great

-
Image
It just amazes me how God answers prayers in ways we never expect. We almost tend to lower our expectations because we don't think God can handle what we actually want. But He always comes through, in His timing of course. So, a few weeks ago I went through my ordination board, which is a pretty big deal. Twelve pastors/elders/scholars that went through my twenty page ordination paper with a fine tooth comb and pretty much grilled me on my theology. Anyway, I received this card and little Bible from two wonderful people that have just been a joy in my life from 9th grade to present. This is what the card said, "I'm returning your little Bible to you. The last time you were at our house before you went overseas to serve our country, you handed me this Bible and told me you 'wouldn't be needing this.' I carried it in my purse as a prayer prompt. I was not sure if you meant you had another Bible? You did not need the Lord, you did not have faith - I just pray
Read more

Discipleship

-
Image
As Christians we are called to continually and progressively strive to become more like Jesus in word, thought, and deed. [1] In a way then, discipleship is similar to the process of sanctification in that the goal is to become more holy and righteous until the final state of glorification. Both, I might add, require relationship, the former with God and the latter with fellow believers. Relationship within the context of discipleship is not merely a superficial one; rather, it requires complete dedication. In fact, Jesus asked that his disciples deny themselves and bear their own cross (Luke 14:27). This means that a disciple must embrace the will of God in spite of personal comforts or wants and despite the suffering, just as Jesus did. He also asks that we hate our family (v. 26). This implies a love so great for Him that love for family pales in comparison to the point of looking like hate. In all of these requirements then, the disciple must
Read more