ODJ: true beauty

August 25, 2015 

READ: Colossians 1:15-23 

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation (v.15).

Beauty isn’t skin deep—not for the believer or for those who don’t know Jesus. A movement to see beauty in women of all shapes and sizes and the call to reject the false standards of entertainment and advertising continues to grow. From marketing campaigns using larger-sized models to local groups teaching young girls to be confident without wearing makeup, the message is clear: you are beautiful and you are powerful . . . simply by being you.

I understand the appeal of these messages. Self-esteem campaigns and inspirational quotes, however, are not the answer. The world isn’t too shy to tell us we’re powerful or even to allow us to believe we’re beautiful. And even though the devil hates us because we’re God’s much-loved children, he isn’t threatened if we have a better self-image.

We draw the battle lines when we believe that our true beauty and our value come as a result of Jesus’ death for us on the cross. The devil doesn’t feel threatened until we believe that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is alive in us (Romans 8:11; Galatians 4:6-7).

When we believe that Jesus gave everything for us in a sacrificial, earth-shattering act of love, we become a direct threat to the kingdom of darkness (Luke 10:19; Colossians 2:13-15). People who know their worth comes from Christ Himself become spiritually powerful. For they’ll spend the rest of their days, every waking breath, looking for ways to love Jesus with their whole lives—body, soul, spirit—even as they reflect His beautiful image (Colossians 1:15).

In Christ, we’re loved and adored by our perfect, loving God (v.22). That’s a truth far greater than anything skin-deep (Philippians 3:3; 1 John 4:17).

—Regina Franklin

365-day-plan: Matthew 20:1-19