Your beauty should not come from outward adornment. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beautiful of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4

 

In a world where commercialism twists beauty into something obscure and creates an unattainable set of values in order to make a profit, the definition and preciousness of beauty is lost. Remember that you are not of this world so its definitions of what beauty are should not be your concern. It doesn't matter what style of clothing you wear or the cosmetics and how they accentuate your eyes. Remember the things of this world pass away and once it is all stripped away the true measure of beauty is in what remains: that which is in your spirit.

Your beauty should come from the inside. In a world where outward perfection is the goal, Christians face the temptation of and are often deceived by that standard. They end up feeling inadequate. When the world only values the outside we forget about how beautiful we are on the inside. While clothes or cosmetics may make the outward appearance beautiful it can never make it perfect. Inwardly our beauty is made complete and perfect because Christ is on the inside. Where clothes can only mask imperfection on the outside, the power of Christ's love can change the inside to radiate beauty.

This verse tells us that the beauty inside of us - the beauty of Christ - is unfading. He gives us a gentle and quiet spirit. We must remember that the world should not be our judge. We are not of this world nor do we need to worry about meeting their standards. We don't need to dress for their benefits because when all passes away the only thing that will remain will be our spirits before God. If we abide in Christ our beauty will continue to be brought to perfection and since God's eyes are the only which will remain we must judge our beauty based on the work Christ has done inwardly.

The gentle and quiet spirit are unfading and show outwardly as Christ moves throughout our lives. Here we are reminded that it is a gentle and quiet spirit that listens to the word of God and abides in that word that are most important in God's sight. Remember, we should be living our lives in order to please the eyes of our God not the eyes of the world that will pass away. Embrace the inner beauty that Christ gives you and remember never to try to live up to the standard of this world. Their standards will pass away and when you stand before God all you will have is your soul. Allow Christ to perfect your beauty inwardly and reflect him outwardly so that you may shine lovely before the eyes of God and man.

 

 

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Dear Lord,
We pray God that you will heal of us of the insecurity we sometimes feel. Remind us that we should live for your standards and help us to continue to shine the beauty you've given us outwardly. Heal us of the pain that the world's imperfect standards have caused us and help us to strive to meet your standards. Take your love Lord and have it turn our imperfections into your perfect beauty. Change our spirits from ones of insecurity to ones of confidence and gentleness. Help us to reflect the fruits of your spirit. Remind us this world and its standards will pass away but you will never pass away. How great is your faithfulness and how complete we are in you! You are what makes us beautiful, nothing else Lord, nothing else but you. Amen.