Inner beauty

We beheld His glory, — John 1:14

The tabernacle in the wilderness was a tent where the glory of God dwelt. The structure was made of badger skins and was plain on the outside. But inside it was exquisitely beautiful (Ex. 25-27)

We can compare the tabernacle with Jesus’ human form. John said, "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). The word dwelt means He "pitched His tent with us," the same word that ancient Greek versions of the Old Testament used for the tabernacle.

Jesus looked like an ordinary man: He had "no beauty that we should desire Him" (Isa. 53:2). No one gave Him a second look. Yet John "beheld His glory," the glory of God Himself. Occasionally, the tent flap was lifted and he caught a glimpse of Jesus’ inner beauty and majesty.

We are tabernacles too, made of skin, made to contain God’s Spirit. Most of us are very plain, not like the make-up actors we see in the movies or the air-brushed models we view in the ads. But God is even now — at this moment — in the process of making us radiantly beautiful within.

We may be very plain and ordinary on the outside — but as we allow God’s Spirit to work within us, the beauty of God’s indwelling presence will shine from our faces.

So, is the world seeing Jesus in you? — David Roper

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,

All His wonderful passion and purity;

O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine

Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me. — Orsborn

READ: John 1:9-14

A righteous heart is the fountain of beauty.

The Bible in one year:

• Leviticus 11-12

• Matthew 26:1-25