True Beauty

Holiness is the only attribute of God that is described with the word beauty.  I thought of this beauty when my friend Judy shared this story. Her family frequently had to be with someone who drinks a lot and uses vulgar language. When she told her husband, “I don’t like him, and I don’t want to be around him,” he replied that she was being critical and judgmental. She was hurt by his response, but she prayed, “Is my husband right, Lord?”

She said, “I hold a lot of life’s situations up to Psalm 25:4-5: ‘Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior.’”

The Lord showed her that this man was really very nice and she was not to be repelled by what he said or did. The only thing wrong with him was that he doesn’t know Jesus.

Judy wrote, “My heart softened and I began to see him through the eyes of Jesus, who dined and ate with sinners and people who seemed to do everything we think hurts the heart of God. In reality, I was the one who was hurting His heart by being critical and judgmental.”

Is it any wonder that as 1 Peter 3:1, 2 is being fulfilled in her home and that her family is coming to Christ?

What beauty there is in transparency before God, allowing the Word to judge and humbling accepting the cleansing it provides.

Thank You, Jesus, for the beauty of holiness that shines through those who love you.