July 25

Inner Beauty

"Your beauty should not be dependent on an elaborate coiffure, or on the wearing of jewelry or fine clothes, but on the inner personality—the unfading loveliness of a calm and gentle spirit, a thing very precious in the eyes of God." 1 Peter 3:3-4 (Phillips)

While this text is directed at the women in the church, the principle of seeking inner beauty applies to all Christians, male and female. The world looks on the outward appearance to develop their opinions of us. God does not. Our outward appearance has no bearing on God's opinion of us. For some of us, that is a relief. What he looks for dwells within our hearts: our inner beauty. I like the way the Phillips translation reads: that God cares about our inner personality, our character, the unfading loveliness of a calm and gentle spirit. How do we develop a calm and gentle spirit? Only by spending time in the Word and with our Lord. If we truly wish to emulate Jesus, we need to sit at his feet and learn about him. Jesus was indeed the epitome of a calm and gentle spirit. When we engulf ourselves in study and prayer these vital fruits of the spirit will take root in our hearts. This kind of inner beauty will set us apart from the world, but more importantly, it will be this inner beauty that will draw others to Christ. It is Christ in us that will make the difference. Henry Drummond said it best when he stated that "rest is not a hallowed feeling that comes over us in church, it is the repose of a heart set deep in God."

Father, may our hearts be set deep in you! Help us to remember that it is our hearts that you want. Keep us focused on Jesus, that our inner personalities might become a thing of beauty. Give us this unfading loveliness of a calm and gentle spirit that we might bring glory to your name! Amen