11/26/08
Today I was told by three different people I was beautiful, proving that ‘beauty is in the eyes of the beholder’ because though I’m flattered, I do have a mirror and know that beauty is relative. The background to these statements was for divers reasons. One elderly lady and I had been having a wonderful chat about the goodness of the Lord, when she made the beauty comment, a gentleman was telling me that I had a winning personality and I was very good with people and by the way I was yep, beautiful. Lastly a teenage girl made the statement to me later that night but I know her judgment of beauty was in reference to how she sees herself.
Isaiah 61:3 says He will give beauty for ashes. Beauty is to be embellished, aka beautified, the word for ashes literally means bestrew, to be scattered all about. He beautifies that which had been strewn about like ashes. I know many today who feel as if they’ve been left with ashes in their mouth (Ps. 102:9), their dreams and hopes seem to be scattered at their feet but I know He can and does bring forth beauty for ashes the key is that we recognize what beauty is. Shakespeare said, ‘beauty is bought by judgment of the eye.’ I often find it is how I judge what I’m seeing which affects the beauty of its appearance to me. A child’s drawing might be judged beautiful but if done by an adult it might seem deficient in merit, lacking in appeal. I may judge a snowy landscape and unappealing because I’m cold not because it does not encompass beauty, by the same token a beach scene is beautiful to me though it is all sand, sea and coconut trees because it bring thoughts of relaxation, warmth, vacation… It’s a judgment call not merely of the eye but of the state of mind.
Isaiah 53:2 prophetically speaking of Yeshua, said He had not stately form, or majesty that we would see Him, nor an appearance that we would desire Him. (my paraphrase) Nothing visually would cause Him to stand out, to be seen and certainly nothing to draw people to Him, yet draw the masses He would and still does. Not for certain looks but for His action; in John 12:32 Yeshua says when He is lifted up (on the cross) He would draw all men to Himself. The beauty of the cross can be found in the deed it accomplished the beauty of the One on the cross though beaten and mutilated by torture was that He loved us so much, He was willing to die for us that He might bring us back to the Father. Maybe it is true to say ‘beauty is as beauty does.’
Thank You for giving us beauty for ashes, the beauty of love crucified for others, the beauty of redeemed purpose and the beauty of amazing grace.
k
