Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
A very vain woman went to get some photos taken one day. She spent hours with the photographer, getting just the right angles with the perfect lighting.
By the end of the day, the photographer was exhausted and the woman was irritated because she didn't think the pictures were going to turn out well. When she received the proofs, her fears were confirmed. She hated every single one of them.
So she called the photographer and let him have it. “These pictures,” she shouted,‘ ‘none of them do me justice. ” At his wit's end, the photographer said, “Lady, you don't need justice, you need mercy!"
We can't physically see the filthiness and ugliness of sin on our souls. And while many people might think they‘d look just fine if they sent their spiritual photo to God, the truth is that no amount of make-up or photoshop could ever do us “justice” in His eyes.
We need mercy! But the good news is that God's mercy is available to us. Through Christ, we can have God's goodness and His pardon from all our sins. Because of that, God sees us as having the righteousness and beauty of Christ, which covers all sin.
This beauty of Jesus was not a beauty seen with the physical eyes. That is the way man sees, but God looks on the hidden man of the heart.
The beauty God is the beauty of a Holy character an inward righteousness.
Thank God for that remarkable gift of mercy today and let us daily
shine the beauty of Christ In all we do.
