BEAUTY SKIN DEEP

I pray thee, O God that I may be beautiful within. – Socrates

2 Corinthians 4:16, For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

There are many in this life that only looks at you for your appearance, what you drive, where you live, or how much money you make. Many times, what they are looking for is what they can get out of you. This is what the Satan does. He finds how you can benefit him, puts you to work, and when you have nothing left to offer, he drops you like a lead balloon. He leaves you like you’ve got the plague. He runs to someone else, so he can use them up.

I’m glad the Lord is not concerned with what I have to offer but what He can do for me! He saved my soul, set my feet on a solid foundation, and I have been firmly in His service for many a year! It’s a joy to know that He gives me strength to live day by day. He is not only a crutch for me; He’s the legs I walk on.

Friend, beauty is only skin deep! When you look at people, seek how you may serve them, not how they can serve you.  

WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST DESIRE?

Whatever you greatest desire is will be what defines you as a person.

            One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4

David’s desire was to dwell with the Lord forever! With this desire in focus it caused Him to seek after the things of God. It caused Him to make provision for the things of God. It caused Him to obtain the things of God; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

What is your greatest desire this morning? Is it to finish High School? Is it to finish college? Is it to find a spouse? It is to be on your own? Is it to get a new car? Is it to be debt free? Is it to see souls saved? I am reminded of Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

LORD, MAKE ME BEAUTIFUL WITHIN!

I pray thee, O God that I may be beautiful within. – Socrates

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. 1 Peter 3:4

            Last night, I heard a great message by Pastor Ricky Easter from 2 Corinthians 4 entitled “not losing heart”. During the message we were challenged to think about the attention we put on the outward man. We take it to the doctor, we take the medicine he prescribes us, we go to the buffet and we buffet our bodies, we entertain our minds with empty television hour by hour, and the list can go on and on.

              Child of God, what about the inward man? If you were to give half as much time you devote to the inward man as you do to the outward man, how much more would your life be like Christ? How many of your problems would go away? If you spent time in His Word, with His people, doing His work, most, if not all of your problems would disappear and you would be beautiful within just like a butterfly bursting forth from a cocoon!