The Lord likes beauty (Ezra 7:27, GW). Beauty does include externals such as full breasts or other physical characteristics for a woman (SS 7:1; 8:10, LB) and the way we organize people or objects (Num 24:2, Rotherham note). There is even beauty in such simple things as the grass (Mt 6:30, AAT). However, at a deeper level beauty refers to being holy (2 Chron 20:21, GW) or having God’s favor (Ps 90:17, ESV and alt). Beauty also includes such things as being gentle (1 Pet 3:4, CW), praising God (Ps 147:1, BB), seeing life as He does (Prov 3:21-22, Message), and being obedient (1 Pet 3:6, CW). God’s grace beautifies. Truth is beautiful (Tit 2:10, Beck). Thus, to the extent we have received of His grace and truth, to that extent we are beautiful.
It should not be surprising, then, that the Lord commands us to be beautiful (Dt 26:18-19, Fenton). We should also appreciate true beauty (Prov 31:31). On the other hand, disobedience – which is a rejection of grace and truth – disfigures us (Rom 1:27, WSNT note). Naturally, complaining about God’s goodness disfigures us (Phil 2:15, Fenton). We can choose to become more beautiful. What well-adjusted person wouldn’t prefer to be beautiful in a way that pleased the Lord and those who evaluate life as He does? Despite our sin, each one of us is beautiful to some degree (Eph 2:10, NLT). As we let the Lord further paint on the canvas of our lives, we become even more beautiful.
May we have right priorities, seeing life as the Lord does. Then, we will focus more on the inner beauty of our character and relationship with God than on our external beauty. External beauty is not to be denigrated. It just isn’t as eternally important as is our inner beauty.
Instead of being timid, learn to be appropriately bold.