|
|
|
|
There’s an old story about a rich man who wished to buy a bride. He visited the village of his youth looking for a suitable mate. Many lovely young women tried to catch his eye, but they weren’t quite what he had in mind.
Finally, to everyone’s surprise he chose a maiden whom the villagers considered unattractive, certainly not wife material for an important, rich man.
The rich man went to the woman’s father, who was happy that anyone would want his gangly daughter. The father suggested a dowry of one cow, but the rich man was appalled.
He told the astonished father that the young woman was much too beautiful to be purchased for only one cow and insisted on a bridal price of 100 cows. The two were married and it is said the first gift the rich man gave his bride was a mirror, so she could look at her beauty.
A few years later the rich man and his wife once again visited the village. The people were shocked by the unbelievable loveliness of the wife and couldn’t believe she was the same unattractive young woman who had once lived among them. But she was.
See, the woman had become the person her husband had seen all along, an incredible beauty. She had learned to see herself through his eyes and was transformed.
“How beautiful you are, my beloved, how beautiful! Your eyes are soft like doves.” Song of Solomon 1:15
Friend, you are the bride of Christ. Have you ever wondered if your Savior finds you attractive? Have you felt unworthy of His attention, uncomely, awkward, insignificant, or ugly?
Perhaps you’re afraid to think about how Jesus views you. Maybe you’re ashamed of your past or present behavior. Your faults spring up before you crying, “ugly, sinful soul.”
But the truth is that the bride of Christ is beautiful.
She is clothed with the righteousness of Jesus. Despite her mistakes she has a tender heart after her groom, one that longs to be loved. She looks toward Him with soft eyes like a dove’s, desiring to please Him.
Scripture is quite clear about what Jesus sees when he looks at his bride. He says she is beautiful, fair, lovely, and comely. He paid the highest dowry, offering His very life to purchase her. He knows about all that ugliness, but it was washed away in baptism and now His bride stands before Him pure and radiant. And He is breathless as He experiences her beauty.
He sees the beauty in you, my friend, and He is calling it forth. He’s offering Himself to you, transforming you by His love.
Jesus is lifting the mirror and asking you to brave a peek.
He knows what you’ll find reflected in it. Radiant, transformed beauty.
January 5th, 2006
|
|
|