It is not
hard to see that our society’s fascination with looks is out of control. One has only to glance at the fashion
magazines at the grocery line to see that physical appearance is king. Looks are prioritized to the extreme that it
is not rare to encounter, otherwise perfectly beautiful young girls, obsessed
with their image, suffering from such illness as anorexia, bulimia, depression,
anxiety, stress, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc, etc, etc...diseases that
where unheard of years ago, let alone observed in teenage girls, all as a
result of the excessive preoccupation with their self-image and insecurities. Peer pressure, parental demands and societal
expectations at large create such a level of unrealistic vision of what a
person should look, dress, act, speak, behave like, that the brain can't take
it anymore and the body explodes with biological manifestations of the condition
of the mind.
This is not
to say that we are to disregard our image; not at all. On the contrary, we are to cultivate the
image that we were given, the image of the Most High God, given unto us as He,
Himself created us. (Genesis 1:27) And
the way we cultivate such divinely created image is by trying to
"look" as much as possible like the visible representation of our
God, that is like Jesus the Christ. That
is how we are to build our own image. By
attempting to "look" more like Christ. The challenge is in discovering what in the
world "looking" like Christ even looks like? As I pondered this question of the ages, I
decided to really think about it.
"What does Jesus look like to me"? What do I really think about His image? Can I put it into words so the idea becomes
more concrete in my head? Can I come up
with a few adjectives to describe my Lord to myself?
Shortly after, a string of thoughts appeared
in my mind: Jesus the Christ, My Lord
and Savior is, to my eyes, strong but merciful; almighty, but without pride;
bold and outspoken, but humble; firm, but compassionate; forgiving, but just;
unafraid and willing to stand for the truth, as He is truth himself, even if it
cost Him His precious life, loving to the point of sacrificing His life for His
beloved. This is the image that I need
to mirror. A mighty task, indeed. An impossible task if I were to do it on my
own...like the song by Matthew West says:
"I'm not strong enough"...but again, He knows that; therefore
He becomes our strength if we let Him...We can do all things, in Christ who
gives us strength...and knowing this IS the secret of being content.(Phil:
4:12-13)
"Praise
be to the name of God for ever and ever.
Wisdom and power are His. He
changes time and seasons. He sets up
kings and deposes them..." (Daniel 2:19)
A Mighty God is our God; let’s let Him be God while we are still and
take refuge in His tower of strength.
11 “‘For
this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and
look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is
with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the
places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.” Ezekiel 34:11-12
Matthew 6:24
ESV
“No one can
serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he
will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
money.
Proverbs
4:25 ESV: Let your eyes look directly
forward, and your gaze be straight before you.
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