Morning Devotional

January 14, 2003

“Beautiful in His Sight”

by Don Emmitte

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All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him. He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will save them from oppression and from violence, for their lives are precious to him. (Psalm 72:11-14 NLV). 

A scientific researcher gathered 10 volunteers for a special psychological study called the Scar Experiment. Separating the volunteers into 10 different cubicles without mirrors, she explained that the purpose of the study was to examine how other people would respond to a stranger with a physical deformity, such as a facial scar. Using makeup tricks straight out of Hollywood, the scientist put bloody and gruesome scars on each volunteer's left cheek. She showed each volunteer the new "scar" with a small hand-held mirror and then put the mirror away.

The researcher's final step in each cubicle was to tell each volunteer that she needed to put some finishing powder on his or her scar to prevent it from smearing. In reality, she used a tissue to wipe off the scar. The volunteers, however, believed they still had scars on their faces. Each volunteer was then sent out into the waiting rooms of different medical offices with instructions to notice how strangers in the office responded to the scar.

After the appointed time, all 10 volunteers returned with the same report. They noticed that strangers were ruder to them, less kind to them, and stared at their "scar." Preoccupied with our personal flaws (physical or otherwise), we often assume that other people consider our flaws as repulsive as we do. In reality, most people hardly notice the things we thing are wrong with us. Because our flaws consume us, we may act toward others as if they disapproved of us. That makes it hard to form friendships. On the other hand, having a healthy self-image or taking a positive view of ourselves frees us to enjoy healthier relationships. Ultimately, of course, a healthy self-image comes from knowing that God thinks highly of you. He created you and loves you as his child. When you take time to listen to God's voice telling you who you really are, you will be less likely to worry about what others think of you. 

Clearly the Scripture teaches us that we are precious, beautiful in His sight. It is only the devil who convinces us that we are not worthy to be loved. He convinces us to look within ourselves for a reason to be loved by God.  The reason is not within us, but within Him.  He loves us because of who He is, not who we are! What a wonderful God we serve. Today, look into the mirror of God’s love and realize that you no longer carry the “scars”. You are beautiful in His sight!