God's Definition of Spiritual Beauty

When we think of beauty, we think of supermodels and movie stars. Their bodies have the perfect size and features. They exercise all the time to maintain their physique. They wear all kinds of makeup to keep up appearances. They use all kinds of beauty enhancers and implants, outlandish and sometimes immodest clothes. In the world of beauty, there are all kinds of polishing, painting, buffing, and all such things going on. The world has made this the standard of beauty. The world has set the bar very high, too high in my opinion. Most normal people can never attain the level of beauty the world flaunts. Some supermodels can't either, hence the implants, makeup, etc.

Proverbs 31:30 says, "Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised." This says that seeking worldly beauty is vain. We all know that just because a person is beautiful on the outside doesn't mean they are beautiful on the inside (Matthew 23:27 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness). Our goal should be to seek a beauty which does not fade, but only grows stronger. Our goal should be to seek spiritual beauty.

To begin with, we should fear the Lord (see Proverbs 31:30 again) because fearing the Lord causes us to praise and glorify Him (Psalm 22:23 - Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel). Fear of the Lord is also where we begin to attain true knowledge (Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction). Another one is Psalm 111:10 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. Fearing God also brings us blessings (Psalm 115:13 -  He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great). It gives us confidence (Proverbs 14:26-27 -  In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death). How do we show our fear of the Lord? Proverbs 8:13 says, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." This theme continues throughout the Bible. Proverbs 22:4 says, "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life."

God's description of beauty includes preaching the gospel. Romans 10:15 - "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" Being obedient to God and serving Him is emphasized throughout the Bible. He makes us beautiful with salvation if we are meek (Psalm 149:4 - For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation).
Our holiness is beautiful to God (I Chronicles 16:29 - Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness). 2 Chronicles 20:21 says, "And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever." Psalm 29:2 says it too, "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." Again in Psalm 96:9 - "O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth."

The pattern is that our character defines us as beautiful or ugly. There are a few verses in 2 Peter 1:5-7 to help us refine our character as God sees fit. "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." These are generally called the Christian graces. We can also focus on the fruit of the Spirit. Ephesians 5:9 says, "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth." They are listed out in Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Philippians 4:8 gives us more to go on with, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

I hope you choose the right kind of makeover!