Revelation 3:8, “I see what you’ve done. Now see what I’ve done. I’ve opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don’t have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep My Word. You didn’t deny Me when times were rough.” (MSG)
A good professor friend of mine who lives in Aspen, Colorado has an absolutely amazing office! It is breath-taking! The inspiring view out of his office window looks as if it should be listed as one of nature’s most beautiful imagery’s. But there’s something interesting I want you to know about it. Daily he’s able to look out at a mountain with rolling fields in between him and the mountain. The field dips down into a hollow, or a “holla” as they call it in the South. In the spring, some of the trees in the hollow start to bloom in living color. The redbud, the dogwood, they just start setting out their blossoms in all their glory. Well, last spring, someone walked into his office, glanced out that window, and said, “Well, look at those beautiful trees way down there, if I didn’t look hard enough, I would never have seen them.”
Truth is, they are indeed beautiful, but they’re in a spot where very few people ever see their hidden beauty.
Likewise, God doesn’t always reserve His beauty for places where lots of people can visibly see to appreciate it. You see, He also plants some beautiful things in out-of-the-way places! And maybe you’re one of them...a hidden beauty in an out-of-the-way place! Believe it or not, but not many see beauty when it’s in an unlikely or a little known place, however, it’s no less beautiful!
Which reminds me of a counseling session I had a few months ago. It was a beautiful couple with communication issues. It was their first anniversary and they went out to an amazing restaurant to celebrate. She went and got her hair done, make-up flawless, beautiful new outfit, the latest name-brand shoes and pocketbook set, manicure, pedicure, facial…I mean she went all out to look drop-dead gorgeous! Well, they started talking and one of the questions she asked him, (sidebar: men, as women, we are always asking questions), is ‘what do you think is my most attractive feature?’ You’ll never guess his response! He said ‘your mind.’ Now, many of us (especially women) are going ‘awwwwww’, However, his wife didn’t quite respond the same way. In fact, she was upset because he didn’t compliment her style, clothes, hair, looks, figure etc…but what was most attractive to him was honestly her mind. He loved how strategic she is planning and executing, how she pays attention to every last detail, how she can figure out a solution to almost any problem…but for her, that wasn’t her most valuable asset. She was so focused on the surface, that she didn’t see just how deep his love, admiration and respect actually went for her. She looked for the obvious, the familiar, the usual that would come from a man to a beautiful woman. And so she missed out on the value of a man who could see beyond sight. And isn’t that like many of us? We stare at the surface and overlook the depth of beauty found in not so obvious places…
With that said, as God is evaluating each of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, He seems pretty unimpressed with the ones that LOOK beautiful to everyone else! Like the church at Sardis that has “a reputation of being alive” but Jesus says to them, “You are dead” (Revelation 3:1 reads like this, “…I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you’re dead, stone-dead” MSG). Or the rich and powerful Christians at Laodicea who Jesus says are actually “pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (The Message Bible says Revelation 3:15-17 like this, “I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.” MSG).
But then there’s this church – this out-of-the-way, little known church that Jesus thinks is absolutely beautiful. Listen to how He describes them in Revelation 3, beginning in verse 8, “I know everything you have done. And I have placed before you an open door that no one can close. You were not very strong, but you obeyed my message and did not deny that you are my followers.” (CEV) Even though they are weak, He promises them something that He offers to none of the other, highly visible churches, just because they obeyed Him. He says, “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” He’s going to give them special blessings and opportunities simply because of their quiet faithfulness. Unlike today's church, they didn’t use their weakness as an excuse not to follow their strong God!
Maybe today you as a person, or as a family or as a local church body, feel weak, fragile, insecure, timid, fearful, untimely even…but because you continue to obey the Word of the Lord, you receive a promise that is strong, sturdy, secure, fearless, and endless!
And no, you don’t live in a mansion, you don’t drive a 2017 anything, you don’t have the degrees, the titles, the positions, the robes, rings and crosses. You don’t have the 50,000 member church. Your skin isn’t flawless, your marriage is a mess or your single walk is becoming unbearably lonely. You may have no children, or several you can’t afford or the ones you still cry over that you’ve aborted. And yet, if you obey the Word of the Lord, you still receive the Promise! You don’t own anything with anybody’s name-brand on it, you’re still flipping burgers at McDonald’s, stocking shoes at Payless or bagging groceries at PathMark, and still I tell you, if you obey the Word of the Lord, you still receive the Promise! Nobody’s following you on Facebook, nobody retweets you on Twitter, nobody likes your pretty Instagram pictures, nobody’s chatting you up on a SnapChat, nobody’s peeping you on Periscope, nobody’s falling over you on Tumblr, nobody’s interested in your Pinterest, nobody’s connecting to your LinkedIn and OoVoo and Skype are far overrated in your book since you have no one to see. And still, because you keep the Word of the Lord, you still receive the Promise!
Believe it or not, but we miss hidden beauty every day! It’s found in the granddaughter who brushes grandma’s hair; the grandson that picks up grandpa’s dropped cane; the husband that helps his wife into her coat, her car or her chair; the wife that cooks her husband’s favorite dinner (even though it’s not what she likes to eat); the church with 10 members in a store front that simply love God; the friend that texts ‘have a great day’ (for no reason at all); the son that picks 1 flower from the neighbor’s yard and gives it to his mom; the daughter that takes out the trash (even though it’s her brother’s turn); the coworker that walks all the way across the office to hand deliver a fax that someone forgot about; the pastor that mops the spill in the lobby before anyone arrives to see him and give him credit; the usher that goes to the nursing home on her days off to sit with those who sit alone.
See, unfortunately for us today, we’ve become so materialistic, greedy, selfish, and even stylish, that we don’t know how to discover hidden beauty. Especially if it’s not attached to a name, promotion, increase, “blessing”, or some form of elevation or acknowledgement.
For example, there used to be excitement and awe over hearing a baby cry in church, (it was a sign of new life and a new generation on the horizon), but now we consider it a nuisance, because the noise distracts us from hearing a Word we’re not going to heed anyhow. We’ve even become so number-obsessed with getting adults into the church, that we haven’t noticed the beauty of youth has faded from the church. We’ve lost touch with real beauty. But God never does! He looked at the church without the reputation for great works, and without the wealthy members, and He saw the beauty of a little out of the way hidden church that simply kept His Word, even when times got rough. When others didn’t see them, He did!
And for someone reading this today, you need to know that’s exactly how He feels about you! You’ve been asked to serve Him, to be faithful to Him in a little place, maybe even a hard place, a place where you receive little or no appreciation or affirmation. Maybe you work or live in a situation where no one appreciates the beauty of Christ in you. But God wants you to know today He loves to look at you. And He thinks you’re absolutely beautiful!
You don’t sit on the front row, no one carries your stuff, wipes your sweat or grandly acknowledges your presence…but God sees your hidden beauty. You serve people who don’t even know your name or say thank you, but God sees your hidden beauty. You’ve kept your virginity and obeyed the Word of the Lord, remaining abstinent, and still you wonder where is Mr. Wonderful, where is Ms. Right, but remain faithful, God sees your hidden beauty. You consistently tithe, but still take the train and bus while those who show up once in a blue moon drive a new car yearly, but be consistent still, God sees your hidden beauty.
Know this: Leah was unloved, Hannah was barren, Tamar was raped, Abigail was married to a fool, Esther was an orphan, Naomi loss a husband and 2 sons, and Mary was more than misunderstood. And yet, the Lord didn’t allow His Word to be written without their stories being included! Therefore, maintain your character, God still has great chapters to add to your life’s story.
Listen, I know it’s easy to get discouraged and even down on yourself when you’ve been asked to bloom for God in a place where few can see you, where few appreciate your service or your sacrifice. But God sees you. You are His “something beautiful” in an out-of-the-way place. And although there aren’t many who see you blooming there, like those glorious trees hidden in the hollow outside my friend’s window, your life is no less beautiful!
In closing, I got back from a trip to Albany, New York last January. I traveled on Amtrak. On the way to Albany, I was preparing to facilitate my workshop so I was getting some last minute studies in and completing some finishing touches. So I really didn’t take out any time to look out the window as we traveled for 2 ½ hours. I didn’t notice a thing outside my window because I was busy, preoccupied, and distracted with my to-do-list. However, on the return trip home, I didn’t have any work to review. So I put on my music and looked out the window the entire ride back. I was absolutely floored to say the least, of all the hidden beauty I had missed out on in my arrival! This time, with no distractions, I looked out the window. To my amazement, there were a lot of these beautiful, hidden streams that flowed down the rocks. But you had to pay attention, and not look away, because the train moves fast, and if you shift your focus, you’ll miss the hidden beauty. So, I turned and fully faced the window. Every couple of minutes we passed another flowing stream, they were so beautiful as the water cascaded down the rocks of all shapes, sizes and colors. Then there were all these ponds that were frozen or had floating ice, that simply shimmered under the sun’s beams. How had I missed all of this? Then there were phenomenal homes that stood on mountain like peaks, how did I not see all of this? And even when we approached certain crossings, there were people of all ages standing there on the side waving at the train as we went flying by. They were smiling and screaming. And as simple and silly as it sounds, I smiled and waved back. But I couldn’t help thinking, where was I when all of this Beautiful Life was standing right there? What was I looking at that I didn’t see all of it?
I share this because when we pulled back into the station, I couldn’t get rid of the smile that was on my face. I had such a peace and joy, and all because I took out time to look at all the hidden beauty around me that I didn’t take time out to look at before. I was exhausted, but happy, re-energized, and feeling that life wasn’t so bad after all. All the little hidden beauty moments revived me with fresh hope. And now I’ve determined to slow down a bit more and actually take the deliberate time to see and enjoy the beauty of life.
There are 2 things I want you to walk away with from this devotional. One, God sees your hidden beauty even when it’s overlooked by others (including you) and; Two, take time out of your busy schedule to look around you and notice all the hidden beauty around you. It may be in your spouse, children, work, church, laundromat, park, car, home, even a beauty salon or barbershop. We have great beauty within, and great beauty around.
Know today that God sees your beautiful obedience and will reward it with an endless promise of an open door. And likewise know that there’s beauty around you that if you take a brief moment to look around and see, you’ll be amazed at just how beautiful life really is.
People of God, Obey God, Appreciate Yourself, and Acknowledge the Beauty in Others Around You! Life is Too Short To Remain So Short-Sighted! Broaden your view beyond the surface, the superficial, the mundane…stretch yourself, challenge yourself, to see beyond all the revealed ugly in the world and see the hidden beauty instead. It’s there, you just have to look a little harder to see it…
Proverbs 31:30, “Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised.” (AMP)
1 Peter 3:4, “but let it be [the inner beauty of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God.” (AMP)
The Hidden Beauty Behind the Open Door Was Obedience! Simple, Unnoticed By Everyone Else Obedience, Led to an Endless Promise of a Continual Open Door, That No Man Can Ever Shut! “I see what you’ve done. Now see what I’ve done. I’ve opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don’t have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep My Word. You didn’t deny Me when times were rough.”
People of God, You Need Not For Others to See You or Your Works. The Key is to Obediently Do Your Works (Even When You Feel Weak), Letting the Promise of God Strengthen You to Carry On. Now, You May Not Always Be Seen and Celebrated By Others, But God Always Sees Your Hidden Beauty, And If He Alone Celebrates and Rewards It With an Open Door Blessing, Who Else Matters?
Much Love, Dr.Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged
"It's Not Selfish to Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself and to Make Your Happiness a Priority. It's a Necessity." (Mandy Hale)
"Self-Care is Not Selfish. You Cannot Serve From an Empty Vessel." (Eleanor Brown)
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