What Do You See?

I grew up hearing, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” We may say that when we’re “acting tough,” but in reality, it does hurt when someone says something ugly about you. Evidently, some children didn’t listen to “Momma” when she said, “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.”

Personally, I’ve always been “a rather large person. . .” Okay, let’s be honest – while there are many words to describe me, skinny isn’t one of them! I find it interesting when people go out of their way to “let me in on the secret” that I could stand to lose a few pounds. It’s not like I don’t know what size I wear. I mean my shoes are a 7 WIDE. But seriously, why do we as a society deem someone’s worth by what size they are. What do you think Zacheus would think of “going down in history” as a “wee little man?” While his short stature is important to the story, that’s really not what his story is all about. King Saul is described as being “from his shoulders and upward, taller than any of the people.” (I Samuel 9:2) Do you think he heard those “How’s the weather up there?” jokes? When choosing the next king of Israel, the Lord told Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his physical stature . . . for the Lord does not see as man seeth, for man looks upon the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7) Isaiah prophesied that the Savior would have “no form or comeliness, and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” (Isaiah 53:2) What these people did during their lives is what matters. Some are remembered favorably – Zacheus may have been short, but he had a big heart and willingly gave half of his goods to feed the poor and if he had defrauded anyone of anything, he gave back four-fold. (Luke 19:1-10) David may or may not have been gorgeous on the outside, but he is known as “a man after God’s own heart.” (Acts 13:22) Thousands of people didn’t follow Jesus out into the wilderness to look at Him – No, they came to hear Him and to be healed. Saul might have been “tall, dark, and handsome,” but “he turned away from following God and did not carry out His instructions.” (I Samuel 15:1) God regretted that He made Saul king.

When others see you, what do they see? Do they see your outside or does your “heart” shine though? Remember the hymn, “Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me.” Are you pretty made up or are you made up pretty? Thank goodness that the Lord sees our hearts. He deemed each of us worthy and beautiful enough to give His life on that cruel cross of Calvary to make a way for us to go to heaven. Hey – at least in heaven, we’ll all get new bodies! I hope mine’s a size 6! God Bless, Courtney