Bible Studies

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How many of us flip on to the latest reality Extreme Makeover shows? I know that I am guilty of it. I watch as a miraculous life changing makeover of someone’s appearance happens in an hour’s television time. In a blink of an eye they go from an ugly duckling to Princess with out even breaking a sweat. As an already over indulged society that worships the beautiful and rich we watch a wonder how to get on the show so we can become the next frog to prince story.

“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?” Matthew 6:28-30 TNIV


We think that all of our problems will disappear if we were only (add your text here) rich, think, sexy, popular. But what the cameras don't show is that things don't happen that way. There isn't a pill or procedure that can be waved over you and have your perceived problems disappear. What they don’t show you is the fact that just because you think the world will love you if you look a certain way doesn’t mean anything when you still hate yourself.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Rather it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.” (1 Peter 3:3-4 TNIV)


For years my mother said, “Don’t look to someone else to make you happy. Instead love yourself as you are and the rest will follow.” I never listened to her and continued to seek out the approval of others to make me feel valid. I always thought 'if I looked thinner he would love me, if I had more popular clothes I would have more friends, etc.' I was never happy with whom I was and I wasted so many years with that mantra playing in my head.
What I didn’t realize is that we need to love ourselves as we are just as God loves us for who we are. God created us in His image not in Hollywood’s or Vogue’s image. By realizing that no matter what color, height, shape, hair we are or clothes we have God love, a love for what we have on the inside: love, kindness, respect, faith, integrity, morals, forgiveness, and all of the things that the Bible teaches us that we should have.

“Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3 TNIV)


Our path to heaven isn’t paved with Gucci bags and Prada heels but with honesty and love. And while we can enjoy the finer things like a good hand bag or a sexy outfit, it shouldn’t be the “be all, end all” if we don’t have it. It shouldn’t be what defines us. Instead it should be the trail of good in our lives. I mean would you want your obituary to read “here lies Me. She had a great pair of Jimmi Choo’s and a credit card debt to match.” Or would you rather it read “here lies Me. She was loved by many. She was known for her work with children, her love of life and her ability to follow God’s plan with out compromise.” Personally I like the second one better.


No, I am not saying that you should go throw away or donate all those Kate Spade items, but what I am saying is that they shouldn’t be what defines who you are in your mind or anyone else’s.


It is time for an Extreme Makeover of our spirits, a time for us to remake our spiritual-selves. By fixing this foundation all other layers will fall into place.

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

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