Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
When I think of “outward adornment” my mind wanders back to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. The year I was born Elvis Presley was already twenty years old. He had just signed his first recording contract with RCA Records. As a kid, there was always an Elvis song on the radio. Maybe I was a bit jealous but I decided at an early age that I didn’t think much of him or his music.
Sixty some years later my wife and I traveled to Memphis to visit friends who had moved out there. Besides catching up and eating some great food, we did a little touring. They graciously offered to take us out to tour Graceland. Inside, I was probably thinking, “ho-hum.” Outside, I am sure I said something more like, “Sounds great!” Having been there and done that, I am pleased to say that it was a great experience. I am very glad that we went.
The Elvis I learned about at Graceland was a very different person than the Elvis I knew from radio and TV. He must have been a humble man at heart. He had deep roots in Gospel music and his actions were often very loving and generous. Among all the gold records and stage costumes on display, there were unexpected treasures. We saw several checks he had written to charity for a million dollars each. There were times when he would run across someone who needed a car, and he would toss the person the keys to his car. The man was generous.
He was also insecure. Especially in his later years. As his body aged he turned to outward adornments to impress people. The tour guide shared a story of Elvis’ daughter remembering him walking the upstairs hall in the morning. She could hear the jangle of gold chains and jewelry Elvis wore, even in his pajamas.
Today’s passage helps us focus on what God sees in us. It is the inner beauty of God’s presence inside us that Peter wants us to focus on. It is the peace in our countenance, the light of God in our eyes.
Peter is not telling women not to wear jewelry. He is not saying that people should not pay attention to their appearance. What I hear in his words is that we should honor God by reflecting his values in how we present ourselves. As Peter says, “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, … is of great worth in God’s sight.”
Application: What we wear is the picture frame for God’s light in us.
Food for Thought: Where does inner beauty come from?
Adorn with the message of Jesus.
Nice visit!
Feather,
Good morning! Thank you for your note this morning. It was a nice visit! 🙂
What is the source of inner beauty? The heart changed and impacted by the Holy Spirit is beautiful because of what God has done by residing within. Of course, I have known unbelievers with a sweet and attractive disposition and believers who run roughshod over others. Being created in His image we have a choice to resemble His beauty or unleash the monster. As believers we have every advantage with the Holy Spirit’s presence. We still have a choice (Galatians 5: 16 – 26) and a battle still rages (Romans chapters 6 – 7). Let us submit to God’s will and make the right choice today.
Rich,
I really appreciate your comment today. We do have a choice, don’t we? We can let people see God’s love through us, or we can try and impersonate what we think God would have us do. The decision happens deep inside, but we can see the results. We can tell the difference between the beauty and the beast.
I consider the heart to be the most beautiful part of a person. An old quote said if a person has a good heart nothing else matters, and if a person has a bad heart nothing else matters. I find Ruth has great inner beauty with her actions of her heart. She caught Boaz’s attention quickly. As all Christian men should notice inner beauty by actions. ” All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you come to take refuge!” (Ruth 2:11-12). Ruth had faith and virtue in her heart and Boaz saw that and protected her and showed favor to her arranging extra grain where Ruth was gleaning, provided water, the harvesters’ meal, Boas showed his heart to her by keeping her heart safe and flourish with grace under his loving care. I feel like heart is the biggest beauty inside or outside. Boas saw that her heart was beautiful that was key, anything other than that is a bonus.
Tim,
Thank you for reminding us of Ruth and Boaz! That is one of my favorite parts of the Bible. Thank you!
Where does inner beauty come from?
The first definition in Merriam-Webster Dictionary is: the quality of being physically attractive. Pleasing to the eye, I wonder if they got that one from EVE. Genesis 3:6, When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye.
Men picked Saul, 1Samuel 9:2, HANDSOME, TALLER than anyone else.
God picked David, 1Samuel 16:7, the Lord looks at the HEART.
Genesis 24:15-21 Eliezer prayerfully sought for a wife for Isaac, and chose Rebekah for HER INNER BEAUTY, not her outer beauty.
Romans 2:15, They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.
Inner beauty begins with fearing the Lord and living our lives according to the knowledge of right and wrong placed in our hearts by God. As Christians we have the Holy Spirits power. Romans 2:15 and the Old Testament teaches us that all had the ability to choose right or wrong written on their hearts. Beauty has always come from the heart of the individual. Beauty is Godly qualities that keep us attractive on the inside and appealing to be around. All who have Gods peace will look to the needs of others because theirs are being cared for by God.
Ron,
Thank you! Your commentary on the dictionary definition made me laugh! One definition I read says that beauty is made up of those qualities that please the “aesthetic” senses. Based on your comment I would add that there are physical aesthetic senses and spiritual ones. It makes it easier to recognize spiritual beauty if you already have God’s Spirit in you.
Excellent point Brother. Our spiritual radar is much more effective than aesthetic.
Beauty to me was just a word until I met Christ,..He is the only true source to my inner beauty,..now because of Him,..everything is beautiful,..except for sin,..but as I mentioned before the beautiful thing about sin is that Christ died to conquer sin and death,..
What a beautiful Savior
Nicely said, John. The way you wrote that almost sounds like a psalm.
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