Yesterday I talked about how God is enthralled by our beauty, and that beauty is found in seeking God. So today I want to talk about God's beauty and love for each of us. The verse above reminds us that God's beauty shines even in the darkest places, even when we think there is no hope at all his beauty is present even if it's just for a day or a moment.
When I went to South Africa in January of 2011, God's beauty was evident in the beautiful scenery that was around me, but it was also evident that day when we worked in the soup kitchen that was in a guys garage that runs a ministry in Capetown called Help Ministries. We went to a poor community a few blocks away and we served soup there, as the pot was getting empty the last guy comes up and fills his plastic container then a few minutes later another guy comes along and we tell him that we don't have anymore left. But just as we tell him this, the guy ahead of him turns around and gives half of his soup to him. Even though that was the only thing that the guy was going to eat that day, he found it in his heart to give to his neighbor, Now sisters, that was beauty in the midst of darkness.
C.S. Lewis says, "To love at all is to be vulnerable," To love someone we must be vulnerable, willing to give up our selfish desires and love them despite their flaws, we must be willing to lay it all out there all of our messy selves for them to see, all the while taking the risk that they might not like it, despite that God still loves us, even our messy selves and that sisters is beauty. When we love someone so much that we are willing to be vulnerable, or sacrifice something out of love. Just as the guy did with the soup, he gave part of his soup away to his neighbor in love, despite the fact that he would be hungry again later, God's beauty was evident in that man and it is evident in each and every one of us when we look for his beauty in the little things and use that beauty to love others just as he loves us. Rest in the truth of Psalm 50:2 and let God's beauty and love shine forth in your life, each and every day.
How awesome is that! What a great example of loving someone as much as you love yourself. I'm definitely going to remember that the next time I have difficulty loving my neighbor.
ReplyDeleteso true! It was a very humbling experience :)
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