As Christians we try to conform our lives to the image of Christ. Paul's own testimony regarding his own life was this, 'Not that I have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do; forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.' - Phil. 3:12-14

Image is very important to many of us. We are told that we are made in the image of our Father. The media highlights image as physical appearence. But God's view on beauty is far deeper than physical beauty. Sin in the world has called man to focus on external beauty and has abused it, perverted it, and now uses it for all kinds of selfish reasons.

But men and women who seek to do God's will can discover God's beauty in each other. God's beauty does not exclude physical beauty but it includes inner qualities. It focuses on what is real, lasting, ultimately satisfying, and all within His moral laws.

God has listed many of these as we read in the books of Timothy and Titus.

1. 1 Timothy 3 says, '...the husband of but one wife, temperate, self controled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ...not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money, ...in the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers, but temperate, and trustworthy in everything.'
2. Titus 2 & 3 tells us, '...pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, ...don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguements, ...instead be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.'

As these scriptures represent what all of us desire to see in those we love. They reflect the qualities of inner beauty of God in us. With them even what some of us see as physical inadequacies in ourselves, these are overshadowed by what is meaningful, endearing, and made perfect in Christ Jesus. All the beauty and goodness that we hold inside us comes from God and it is this that makes us a loveable person. When we feel that no one could love us for all our faults, God with His unconditional love comes in and makes us receptive to love and acceptence.

I pray that these messages can inspire you and bring you hope in that we serve a Living God that is the same yesterday, today, and forever!!