Reflecting on beauty

A verse to read But what is God’s idea of beauty?

‘May the beauty of the Lord our God rest upon us…’ Psalm 90:17

Psalm 90 by Moses ends with this wonderful prayer. Modern translations substitute the word ‘beauty’ for ‘blessing’ or ‘favour’, but these words do not convey the same fullness of meaning.

We all recognise beauty when we see it, though we all may have different favourites. I see beauty in a well-groomed horse. Perhaps you prefer the humble warthog or another aspect of God’s creation.

Moses had seen God in some way that God’s glory and beauty reflected so powerfully in his face that Moses had to wear a veil to speak to everyone else.

The Holy Spirit helps us by reminding us of the many fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. These godly fruits when lived out reflect God’s beauty. Physical beauty is not what is in mind here, but a spiritual beauty in action.

Wordsworth, a Christian poet sum it up this way ‘…that best portion of a good man’s life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts. Of kindness and love’.

A chorus to sing or read

‘Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, All His wondrous compassion and purity, O thou spirit divine, all my nature refine, Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.’

Would you make this your prayer today?