1 Peter Chapter 3 verses 3-4 (NIV)
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.
Sometimes social media makes it difficult for young people to be their real self. They might find themselves competing for the best photos and experiences amongst their peers on a shared platform. And if they don’t feel they’re looking their best there’s always the filters on our phone’s camera setting isn’t there. It can be hard for our young people to be confident in themselves just as they are. But yet that’s the person who God loves.
But these verses from Peter are a lovely reminder of what God sees as important – the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That goes for the men too! After all, there’s a huge market for men’s beauty products these days.
God looks for fruit that remains, not something that is fleeting and we see this reflected in Peter’s description of unfading beauty. We may not all be able to match other people’s expectations as to what they think we should be like, but we can seek to please God by cultivating the characteristics that please Him, and that’s what’s most important, and I hope we can set that example in particular to the young people who might cross our path.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for loving me just as I am. Help me not to compare myself to others, but to seek to do what pleases You. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.