But What Do You Have?

"But you have an ugly heart!" the young girl says in a burst of anger, "and that's worse than an ugly face!"

"Pretty is as pretty does," my grandmother often reminded us girls.

Have you ever known someone, that to look at them they weren't really pretty. Maybe they were--to be honest--rather plain, but for some reason they really stood out in your mind--and maybe especially in your heart, as border line beautiful.

Many women today are encouraged in the ideology that 'it's all about me'. Shirts, skirts, pants, all sorts of apparel flaunt the 'me' idea...especially the 'look at me' philosophy.

Funny how sometimes the meek and quiet people don't have to clamor for attention. They stand out because...

1Peter 3:4 but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

They stand out because they are different. They stand out because when you see them they are self-assured enough that they don't need the applause of the crowd.

"I get to play Scarlett," my cousin says. When we were little kids 'pretending' she always had to be the hero/heroine in what ever we were playing. If we were playing Zorro, she was Zorro (I got to be 'Sergeant Garcia'). If we were playing Scarlett and Gone With the Wind--I got to be 'Mealie Mouth Mellanie'. No matter what--she was it and I was not. But wait...

Even though Sergeant Garcia was the foil for Zorro...there was a vast difference between Scarlett and 'Mellie'. While Scarlett was beautiful, vivacious, sought by many suitors, Mellanie was quiet, gentle, and steady. She had qualities that Scarlett didn't appreciate nor understand-- until the end of the story. She also had several things that Scarlett could only wish for.

1Peter 3:5 For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands: 6) as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

Have you ever thought of meekness, godliness, and gentleness as ornaments?

"You know the woman I mean," my daughter and I are discussing people that shop at the store she works at. "She wears a 'bonnet', but she really doesn't look the part. I don't know...her husband looks like he was one of that faith, but he's left it, maybe."

"Yes, I know the one you mean. She buys 'those kind of novels'," she says raising her eyebrows.

"Oh," I say thinking sadly to myself, "I guess, I can see that in the way she dresses. She just looks wrong somehow."

Do we ever wonder why the 'world' isn't beating a path to salvation's doorstep? There is more than one reason of course, but...

"The women from this compound dress--and look--like they came from a century before," the t.v. commentator is railing on a happening.

As I watch these quiet women standing for their homes and families, I wonder what is wrong with their appearance. They are neatly and modestly dressed, and yes, they would stand out in our present day society of loose morals and lax morality. I would not defend nor support their religious beliefs, but at least they don't look...or act for that matter like a bunch of floozies.

By their divorce/remarriage; live together, hop from one partner to the next--people of the world practice life styles much worse than what these people are accused of, so why do worldly people think these folks are so shocking? Of course we know, but---

1Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded: 9) not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10) For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: 11) And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it. 12) For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.

"Well, pretty may be as pretty does, but ugly goes all the way to the bone!"

To make a difference in our current world Christians--men as well as women--must look..and act different--in a good way, from the world.

1Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Hallelujah! What a Saviour!