One look in the mirror and you know whether you like what you see. You know what internally goes through your mind and you know whether the voice you listen to is full of truth or lies. With so many messages in our society today telling us how one must look, we must be grounded in the truth of the Bible to be able to sort it all out and retain a healthy self-image. And even though we may know the truth, living by the truth is still difficult.
The issue has been around a long time. I assume people have struggled to have a healthy view of their bodies since the beginning of time; however, the number of body images we see has greatly increased over the last century like no other time in history. The creation of movies, followed by television, put the images of people before the eyes of people more frequently. Coupled with this is the idea of what the makers believe a body should look like—and their message is latched onto by society at large. Magazines in checkout stands, billboards along the roadside, and the internet in the palm of your hand all only plant further ideas on what ones body is supposed to look like.
Christians shouldn’t shrug off the image of their bodies. They really ought to have the healthiest view out there! The Bible teaches that people have been created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27) and that a believers body is the temple of God the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20). This is what motivates a believer to take care of his body. Eating healthy and exercising for this purpose is good.
The danger comes when one becomes obsessed with what she sees in the mirror. When a few pounds dictates the value he places on himself. Or the mood she is in is determined by whether or not she receives any praise for how she looks. When this is the case it becomes apparent that the lies of society have been listened to and believed.
Take good care of yourself, but learn to see the value that God has already declared on you when He made you. Grasp His love and complete acceptance of you and readily pass the same on to others. Find older people who have lost the vigor of their youth yet offer the depth of a beautiful spirit and maturity that has come from a personal relationship with Jesus. Learn from them and ask God to help you learn to model the attractiveness of their character. With joy and humble-like confidence, appreciate how God has fashioned you and give thanks to Him the next time you find yourself looking in the mirror.
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