Being Beautiful

For we are God’s masterpiece. -Ephesians 2:10

In the women’s study we just started on Tuesday, Beth Moore said something that struck me. “God is pursuing you!” What women (or man) doesn’t want to be pursued? We want to be wanted. I have a tag on my bulletin board above my desk at work that says, “God is very fond of you.” Whenever I look at it, I smile. I like that God likes me.

But we often forget that fact because of what the world defines as being “pursue-able.” The cosmetic and clothing companies have made billions off of our desire to be desirable. What is considered “beautiful” for the world is overly dependent on our outward appearance and the images held up for us are often warped. (Thank you Photoshop.)

Dove (the cosmetic company) hired a police sketch artist to compose two portraits of several women. The first was based on each women’s description of herself (the sketch artist never saw the women he sketched); the second was based on the description the women gave of each other. The results are amazing in that the second picture was not only a more accurate rendition, it was also more beautiful. (If you have time, you should watch the video found here.)

False images and ideas of beauty for both men and women abound. This puts us in danger of losing our true identity—which is a loved, cherished, and valued child of God. And he is pursuing us every minute of every day! He just can’t help himself—because he is so fond of us.

We are, as it says in Ephesians, “God’s masterpiece.” Instead of letting our emotions or other’s opinions of us define our self-worth, remember how precious each of us is in God’s eyes—the only eyes that matter. I hope you can use God as your mirror.

Being Human connection: Don’t let the world warp your view of yourself. God’s view of you is a more accurate and more beautiful rendition than we can ever hope for!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. – Psalm 139:13-16