God’s Standard Of Beauty
I was always tall for a girl, towering over the boys in my classes until about age fourteen.
I hated it. My height also excluded me from being a serious ice skater, something I would have loved since the standard in that arena was “petite.”
My parents enrolled me in modeling school to help improve my self-image, and it did the trick.
I earned an astounding fifteen dollars an hour when modeling for local department stores, and people lauded me for my former nemesis—my height.
“God Looks At The Heart”
The emphasis on physical appearance that dominated many of my thoughts in my high school years continued over the decades right up to the present moment.
I’m not alone. One of the prime audiences for cosmetic companies is the aging baby boomer generation. Ads claim remarkable results for faithful use of this or that cream.
Plastic surgery and Botox treatments lure women my age into many a doctor’s chair in attempts to cover up the aging process.
I am not critical of women who choose these procedures. I might consider it myself if I weren’t such a wimp about pain.
God’S Standard Of Beauty
1 Samuel 16:7 Meaning
But in my heart of hearts, I know that these superficial measures address an area of life that is a priority for the world and not a priority with God. God looks at the heart.
The power of this verse in 1 Samuel comes in the freedom it offers from this standard of perfection that surrounds us.
Outward Appearance vs. Inner Character
If we can really grasp how God sees and values us, we escape from the damaging superficiality that can lead to poor self-esteem.
Another amazing reality this verse puts forth is that God looks at our hearts. He can see, even better than we can, what is the condition of our emotional and spiritual state.
David Anointed By Samuel
How do we know what God sees when he looks deep inside of us? I think one of the most accurate ways to honestly evaluate our heart condition is to watch how we respond to life.
An often-used test is how we drive a car and treat other drivers on the road. While this can be one measure, how we respond on the inside to many of life’s circumstances may be a more accurate one.
Biblical Definition Of True Beauty
Does my heart break when I watch the news or do I secretly wish others harm? Do I make opportunities to think well of someone whom I find irritating? Do I look at the world and other people with the eyes of Jesus?
Keeping a heart in godly condition is a constant challenge but so much more rewarding than a cleaned-up outside—tall or not—that harbors a run-down inside.
Father, thank you that you look at us inside and touching our lives to change our hearts.