Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of the name of the loving God who looks upon us and gives us value. What is man, that God would think of him, but He does.
I recently read an interesting and very picturesque blessing given by God. “And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain” (II Samuel 23:4).
This is the blessing that God gives to those who rule justly over men and who rule in the fear of God (v. 3). While this will certainly be true of the Messiah, I believe it is a general blessing that would apply to all just and God-fearing rulers, and I believe this passage particularly attributes such an estimation, and therefore blessing, to David.
The descriptions run together a bit, but I believe there are four components, each of which provide pleasant pictures of peace and beauty. First, the dawn. What beauty and quiet wonder there is in that gentle light as the sun rises. Second, a clear morning. There is something pleasing about starting the day with sunshine instead of clouds. Third, sprouting grass. What a pretty color when the new grass just begins to emerge in spring. Fourth, the renewed brightness after rain. All of creation and humanity seem to perk up when the sun comes back out after a storm.
Each of these pictures would make a beautiful painting. They would serve well as topics for lovely poems. These expressive and sensory pictures are beautiful attributions that God makes about those who rule justly, about those who serve Him well.
While they are specifically about rulers, surely this is similar to how God thinks of all those who serve Him righteously and with godly fear. God esteems such people highly and finds them beautiful. Consider Isaiah 52:7. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”
As I think of these divine estimations of beauty, I think of each of you who are serving God. I believe this is how God sees you! “Maybe,” you acknowledge, “I mean, if I were perfect like David was, then God could value me like He valued David.” Wait. David – perfect? Oh, no. He was flawed like all of us are, and he had some colossal failures along with the smaller ones. But overall, his heart was to serve God justly. Overall, he was a man whose heart was tender toward God.
Doesn’t that describe you also? Flawed, certainly. Large and small failures? Granted. But a heart to serve God. A desire to please Him. Genuine effort to righteously spread His message.
Then you are beautiful to God – like a colorful sunrise, like a sunshiny morning, like bright tender grass, like the brightness following a storm. Your feet are beautiful. God loves you, and He loves your service for Him and your heart for Him.
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10). What you are doing matters! What you are doing honors God! What you are doing is beautiful in His sight!
Love to you, and may God bless you and continue to increase your beauty as you labor for Him.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
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