Hello again, sisters!
In Esther 2:11-15, we see Esther in a rather exciting, yet anticipatory time in her life. The King is looking for a new queen, and Esther has been chosen out of many beautiful women in her province to be considered for the position. (Almost like the ultimate “Dating Game” – only the ancient royal Persian version!) Before any of the women were presented to the King for his consideration, they underwent an incredible beauty treatment – six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics. Six months for each treatment! (Anyone complain to you about how long it takes you to get ready?? Now that’s high maintenance!)
For those of us who are married, remember when you would get ready for a date with your husband? (Some of us may have to reach back in the memory bank a bit….) For those of you who are single – think about an important date or event that caused a bit of preparation. I remember when I was dating my husband…I wanted just the right outfit, something that made me look good, but not that I was trying too hard; something appropriate for the outing. I needed the right makeup, the right shoes – you get the picture. Sometimes I would shop for something new (even though my oldest shirt would have been new to him!), and I definitely called my Mom, sister, and several friends to get their opinions on how to present myself. On date night I would spend quite some time preparing myself to put my best foot forward. I would be nervous and excited and would count the minutes until I heard his knock on my door. Sound familiar to any of you?
Likewise, in our own lives, we are preparing to meet our King—Jesus! We know that when we are presented as his Bride that we want to be our best. The wonderful difference in our scenario is that 1) we know that when we belong to Jesus, He has already accepted us, so we need not fear rejection when we meet him; and 2) Jesus is not concerned with how we look on the outside; He looks at our heart (1 Samuel 16:7). So if Jesus is not looking for our best outfit, but looking for our best “inside person,” how do we get that ready? What beauty treatments are going to help us make that wonderful presentation of our ultimate selves to the King?
Darlene reminds us of a lovely Scripture.
1 Peter 3:3-5 (NIV)
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.
Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands.
Now let me just put this argument to rest …. Does this Scripture say that it is unbiblical to braid your hair, wear jewelry or get dressed up? NO. What it says is that your beauty should not be skin deep. Hair, jewelry, and clothes are all perishable and therefore are undependable. They aren’t the mark of true beauty, which comes from the inside. No one and nothing can take away your true beauty!
When the Holy Spirit is your helper (like Hegai helped Esther), and you follow His beauty advice, the result is amazing. Galatians 5:22 tells us what a beautiful woman looks like, one who is ready to meet her King (you might also know this verse as describing the fruits of the Spirit).
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Our “beauty regimen” should consist of daily cultivation of the fruits of the Spirit. I say daily cultivation because we don’t just wake up filled with all of the patience or gentleness we will need for the rest of our lives, do we? Every day situations will present themselves that will require us to practice those fruits. You want patience? Be careful what you pray for – you will only develop patience when you are placed in a situation that requires you to be patient. The same for all of the fruits. The same for our lives of submission and obedience to Christ.
Every day we will be presented opportunities to follow, to submit, to obey, and to believe. We will become better followers when we make the choice to fall in behind the leader, and then act accordingly. Not the most submissive wife yesterday? You know what? That’s ok – but be different today. Rebelling against authority figures in your life? Choose to be different today. Resistant to the leading of Jesus? Change and be different today! You can’t do anything about the past except repent of it, ask God to forgive you, and then choose to act differently today! That is how we get ready for the King. Daily ask God – “How can You make me more beautiful today? Holy Spirit, can You show me how to be more like Christ today? Can You show me how to be more submissive…more obedient?” Ask, and then trust that just like Hegai, the Holy Spirit will show you exactly what is needed today to be gorgeous—a radiant light that shines for the King!
Let’s Pray:
Holy Spirit, thank You for being our ultimate Helper! Help us today to see our beauty not as the world sees it, in the outward woman, but as our Father sees it. Help us in our “beauty regimen”, to make ourselves pure, holy and beautiful for our Lord Jesus. Forgive us when we are resistant to Your leading. Thank You for the great example of an obedient spirit in Esther, and help us to develop our own obedient spirit! Thank You for Your abundant blessings and protection! In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.
