INTRODUCTION

More and more, the world is driven by the desire to be beautiful. Some have gone so far as to change everything about their appearance in hopes of turning out more beautiful than before. Beauty, however, is an area where God and man think quite differently. God sees beauty as a matter of the heart, while man thinks beauty is putting on more makeup (2 Kings 9:30And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
See All...), or changing hair color, or having something cosmetic done to the teeth or body. In the end, the Lord says that man’s idea of beauty is actually quite vain. And while men praise for outward beauty, the Lord says that "a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) God is not impressed by the way we beautify ourselves. He wants our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
  See All...; 1 Peter 3:1-4 [1] Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; [2] While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. [3] Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; [4] But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
  See All...). The Devil was beautiful but rebellious (Ezekiel 28:12-17 [12] Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. [13] Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. [14] Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. [15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. [16] By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. [17] Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
  See All...). So was Absalom (2 Samuel 14:25But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.
  See All...; 2 Samuel 15:1-12 [1] And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. [2] And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. [3] And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. [4] Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! [5] And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. [6] And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. [7] And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron. [8] For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD. [9] And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. [10] But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. [11] And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. [12] And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
  See All...).
• How can one find the proper balance in trying to look neat and clean for the Lord, yet not going overboard to the point of vanity? Have you found that balance?
• How much concern do you give to your appearance? Have you changed much in order to please others? Are you overcome by the need to appear beautiful or handsome?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to help you find balance in this area.
• Ask the Lord to show you what true beauty is.

HYMN

All That Thrills My Soul

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