Believers Are Beautiful
God’s people are said to be beautiful (Ephesians 5:27, TCNT). We are as lovely to God as precious jewels would be to a person (Isaiah 49:18, NCV). What makes us beautiful, like jewels? The context of the Isaiah 49 passage is one of the Lord refining and guiding His people (Isaiah 48:17, GW). Then there is a discussion where the Lord says that He will display glory through His servant (Isaiah 49:3). He promises not to forget them because they wait for Him (Isaiah 49:23). In this, they are like the supreme Servant, the Messiah, who listens to the Lord each day like a student (Isaiah 50:4). Hence, believers trust God for guidance even when their way is dark and confusing; they do not choose their own path (Isaiah 50:10-11, NCV). Like Messiah Jesus, they are God-directed. He guides their steps.
This, then, is how we are beautiful – We reflect the Lord’s glory and are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18, GW). We let the Lord guide our steps by waiting on Him, listening to him, and acting like the fully dependent-on-God Messiah (Jn 5:19). Thus, we reflect His beauty. In our experience, we become increasingly more like Christ (Rom 8:29) because the Spirit of the Lord is upon us (Isaiah 61:1).
Let us become more beautiful to the Lord and see ourselves and others as He sees us.
We are to be good stewards of the children God may give us.