First Seek Christ¡¯s Beauty
Shared by Patricia Backora, author of the book
Tough Love in Christ's Millennium
Which you can order online from: http://www.publishamerica.com
Ecclesiastes 3:11; Proverbs 31:30; Galatians 3:26-29
This new gospel so popular with earthly-minded saints centers around outward glories, which by their very nature, will fade away. Many are using Me to obtain things which could augment their status in society or make their lives more luxurious, rather than seeking after the eternal riches of My Kingdom.
In Old Testament Tabernacle worship, there was an outer court ministry as well as an inner court course of service. Both were necessary, but the Inner Place of My Presence where I meet with you is so much more glorious. Many are content to linger only on the outer perimeter of fellowship with Me, deriving whatever transitory benefits they can from their materialistic faith.
Much more emphasis was placed on external form in the Old Testament Scriptures, for the outer glory was but a picture of spiritual realities to come. There were numerous places where a person is described as being comely in appearance, in conjunction with desirable inner qualities. David was handsome, as well as courageous and pious. Abigail was beautiful, as well as sensible and wise. Absalom was the handsomest man in Israel, but he nursed ugly hatred in his heart toward his own father, David, and plotted to kill him. He did not possess the beauty of spirit David manifested toward Me.
Today, many value only exterior attributes in themselves and others. Thus, New Testament believers are measured by Old Testament standards. In the New Testament, individual characters move into the background and give the glory to Christ the Lord. He alone is to receive exaltation for His inherent virtues. Nothing thrills My Father-heart more than to see one of My children developing more and more into His likeness. That should be the goal of every Spirit-filled believer, for there is no higher calling.
I don¡¯t sanction even ¡°Christian¡± beauty pageants. Such contests are immodest, self-glorifying vanity. In the Old Testament, there were times when physical beauty was a prerequisite for fulfilling one¡¯s purpose in life, as when Esther was selected as Queen of Persia. In My providence, this put her in a position to help save My people Israel from total massacre. The wives of the Patriarchs were selected largely on the basis of natural comeliness. One exception was Leah, the first wife of Jacob. Jacob looked only on her outward appearance, and would not have married her, had he not been tricked into doing so. Yet it was she who was the matriarch of the Royal tribe of Judah, from which I originated. It was prophesied of Judah that he would be the one praised by his brethren. It is the beauty of the Rose of Sharon which constitutes the true comeliness of a believer.
Many a godly, Spirit-anointed woman has been discouraged from active ministry because she was not deemed attractive enough to represent Me! But nowhere in the New Testament is an individual saint commended or rewarded for being outwardly beautiful. The ground in front of the Cross is level, and all My children are accepted by Me on equal terms. My Son is seeking out a people who are willing to receive of His beauty and reflect it daily in their lives. He has comely people, plain people, short and tall, old and young, rich and poor, great and small, who delight in Him. He sees no difference, for all are joined to Him in one Spirit. It is only carnal-minded saints who insist on creating a difference and rebuilding old barriers which I have torn down.
