Where there is beauty, there is rest. There is belonging. There is God.
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10
A butterfly flutters by in its grace and lightness. A rose stands out with its charm and splendour, capturing the heart who has received it. A sunset painted in shades of gold and lilac, the crashing of a deep blue wave, a field of sunflowers, and the cool breeze under the shadows of enormous trees. A pride of lions bathing in the sun, a spotted deer in the quiet of a forest, and the songs of colourful birds. There are mountains glorious in might and valleys mysterious in their depth, all beholding something unique. Something precious. Something of worth. Beauty.
A women stands out among a crowd, her face inviting, her femininity like poetry. A man moved by his strength, ready to take on battles and show his bravery in a great rescue. Beauty. The laugh of a baby, the kindness of a stranger, the stroke of a mother's touch, the kiss of a father, the hug of a close friend.
Beauty. The presence of God stirs the sleeping soul, speaks magnificent light into darkness, breathes life into dust. What is the nature of this beauty? Love.
Imagine a world without beauty. Dull right? In all of God's Creation, we see the beautiful and lovely work of His hand. We see His love and heart in all He has made. We see His mystery, His desire, and His comfort. We also see His glory, His existence and His very Word (John 1).
O Lord, what a variety of things You have made! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your creatures. Psalm 104:24
Take a moment to stop and think of the last time you were taken aback by something beautiful. How did it make you feel? Captivated. Invited. Loved. Awed. Think of nature and all it holds - isn't it just beautiful? God speaks to us through His beauty. He tells us of Who He is, of what He can do and of the love He bestows. Beauty is a gift - something we don't ask for, we just see it, feel it and remember it. Isn't that who God is? He is glorious, He is worth searching for, He is there. God is full of love and mystery - His heart is open to you and I, and all He wants to do is captivate us. He wants our hearts to be captivated by Him, and it is in His beauty that we see this.
What is the price of two sparrows - one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31
You and I are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). We are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27). If a mountain is so breath-taking or a field of flowers so magnificent - how much more beautiful are you and I? And it is not the outward appearance that captivates so much, but rather our God-given desires that reveal His glory. It is our gentle and quiet spirits renewed by the Holy Spirit in us that is so worthy of being seen (1 Peter 3:4).
Imagine finding a treasure that has a beauty that never fades, that over time it grows more lovely, more captivating and more in need of special attention? Isn't it worth saving? Worth keeping safe?
In Matthew 13:44, the Kingdom of Heaven is described to a hidden treasure and a pearl. In both parables, the man and merchant sell everything they have to hold that treasure, to keep that beauty. As God's family, we have given up our lives and found Jesus. We have found the hidden Treasure and Pearl and have given up our lives so that we can have Him.
Now, see the beauty we hold! How glorious! How worth sharing! How life-fulfilling! We have found true Beauty - we have found Love in its most wonderful form! God is so loving that He hasn't just given us beauty through Creation to make our hearts smile, but He has given us a Beauty of our own, revealed in our hearts, that makes us worth saving, worth eternal life. Jesus is our Beauty and how magnificent is He!!
You are beautiful, my darling, beautiful beyond words. Song of Songs 4:1
God thinks you are beautiful. God made you beautiful. Through Jesus, our hearts are transformed into the true beauty they are meant to hold and carry. We have worth. We have rest. We have belonging! Beauty finds humility because it is not what we are, what we wear, or what we look like that makes us beautiful - it's Whose we are. We are sons and daughters of the Most High, the God Almighty, the Worthy One.
The beautiful Jesus.
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