When
people speak of beauty, they are usually referring to physical beauty
of people, but that’s not what I’m writing about.
I was discussing this
struggle once with a close friend, and he urged me that especially
considering my work as an investigative journalist, I need to take in
beauty as a regular discipline. At first, that seemed odd. Take in
beauty? What does that even mean?
Yet, it’s Scriptural.
Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is
true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent
or praiseworthy—think about such things.” I’ve found that the
more I practice this discipline of beauty, the healthier my soul
becomes.
So now, I try to take in
beauty daily by running on a beautiful path, picking flowers and
putting them in vases throughout the house, watching an inspirational
movie, or reading the Psalms.
God
is a God of beauty
C1
Priestly garments: Exodus 28:2 NET You
must make holy garments for your brother Aaron, for glory and for
beauty.
C2
Preaching the Gospel: Romans 10:15 NLT And
how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the
Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who
bring good news!"
C3 The New Jerusalem:
Revelation 21:11-14, 18, 20-21 NLT It
shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone--like
jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with
twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve
tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on
each side--east, north, south, and west. The wall of the city had
twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb. ... The wall was made of jasper, and the
city was pure gold, as clear as glass. ... the fifth onyx, the sixth
carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz,
the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
The twelve gates were made of pearls--each gate from a single pearl!
And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.
C4 The restored Garden of
Eden, now in the New Jerusalem: Revelation 22:1-2 NLT Then
the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal,
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the
center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of
life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month.
The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
This
world is cursed because of sin, yet much beauty remains.
Take
time to enjoy beauty.
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