(originally written on October 13, 2010)
For my birthday I received a starter kit of Bare Minerals makeup. I’d been considering the change for some time. See, I’m 35 now and, when I look in the mirror, I see things I don’t like. Even with the best of lighting there are laugh lines, crows feet, wrinkles, uneven skin tone. I’m not really interested in everyone seeing all of this in progress, so new make up it is!
The compliments have been amazing. “Wow! Your face is glowing!” and “Your skin looks so great! I can’t believe you’re 35!” Just what a girl likes to hear. No matter what the truth is. Age is creeping in and leaving its mark on my face. Just because I’m good at hiding it, doesn’t change the facts. Those blemishes are there. Trust me.
I’ve become good at hiding stuff. Not just on my face, either. When I head out to church or anywhere else, I put on a similar mask. I disguise the things I don’t want people to see. Like what, you ask? Well, I’m good at putting on a jovial cover in order to hide my pride, or my judgmental spirit. Maybe I put on a little “extra spirituality” like a cheery cheek color, so you won’t notice my flaws. Its embarrassing, but true.
I have a lot of shortcomings. I know them. When I take the time to look, my imperfections glare at me in the mirror of Scripture. Perhaps God was prepared for me in my situation because He talked about me in James:
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Truthfully, I’m still working at understanding this Scripture. I know that God, through His Holy Spirit, continually speaks to me. He sees me as I am and knows me. It is his job to continue the work in my heart, helping to smooth away some of the wrinkles and blemishes that I have acquired. Rather than covering them, He wants to help me remove them. At the end of the process, by His power, I’m able to move with freedom, learning to follow Him. When I look into His mirror, I can see a little bit more of Him and a little bit less of me; a lot more of the beautiful complexion He desires for me, rather than the imperfect mask I create.
The good news is this: He loves me as I am and continues the work, regardless of where I am in the process. I can come to Him no matter how my heart looks. With a bit of confession and a repentant heart, I experience the best beauty treatment ever.
I have a favorite old hymn that reminds me of His promise to receive me and love me as I am…
Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.Come, ye thirsty, come, and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh.Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this unconditional offer of love. Help me to receive your words of truth, no matter how difficult, and walk in them. Keep me looking for You in my mirror – until the glorious day when my mask or any need for makeup will be gone completely!
amen
daily portion 