Girlfriends in God - Jan. 18, 2010
January 18, 2010
Cheap Nails
Today's Truth
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he (she) is a new creation, the old is gone, and the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Friend To Friend
One of the greatest philosophers of all time is Charlie Brown, the little round-headed kid in Charles Schulz's Peanuts cartoon. But even Charlie Brown has his problems. One day he was visiting his psychiatrist, Lucy. Lucy sat pensively behind her makeshift booth that resembled a lemonade stand. Her shingle read - Psychiatric Help 5 cents.
Frame one: Lucy says to Charlie Brown, "Your life is like a house…"
Frame tw "You want your house to have a solid foundation, don't you?"
Frame three: "Of course you do…"
Frame four: "So don't build your house on the sand, Charlie Brown…"
Frame five: A strong wind blows, knocking Lucy off her chair and the booth into a heap on the ground.
Frame six: "or use cheap nails."
I see many women today who have started building their spiritual houses on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, but then proceed to build on that foundation with the cheap nails of outward appearance, performance, possessions, power, and the praises of others. Alas, when the strong winds of adversity begin to blow, just like Lucy's makeshift psychiatric booth, we fall apart.
In second Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul talks about two types of building materials. One type is wood, hay, and stubble. These are what man produces. He plants and he reaps. They are very temporary and can be burned up or lost in a moment. The other type of building material is gold, silver, and precious stones. These are what God has created, but we just have to discover - sometimes requiring digging through mountains of dirt.
The culture's outward beauty ideas are very temporary … wood, hay, and stubble. But the principles found in God's Word are eternal with everlasting results. We can try the beauty tips in the magazines, but true beauty occurs when we sit in God's spa and let Him perform a miracle.
Women love the idea of a day at the spa. After all, Queen Esther in the Bible stayed in a spa for an entire year before she claimed her title of Mrs. Xerxes. Her beauty regimen included six months with oils of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics (Esther 2:12). Not only that, she was assigned seven maids to take care of her every need. Now that sounds like a spa package worth looking into!
Let's face it, women want to be beautiful. However, many fail to realize that true beauty begins on the inside and works its way out. But how do you become beautiful on the inside? You will not discover the secret in magazines, talk shows, or reality TV. Inner beauty is the result of God's transforming power in the heart of a willing soul. He doesn't simply cover up our flaws; He miraculously starts from scratch and makes us new. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, (she) is a new creation," Paul wrote, "the old is gone, and the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The best beauty treatment is spending time with the makeover artist Himself … Jesus. God's spa is always open and the price has already been paid. So what are we waiting for! I'll see you there.
Let's Pray
Dear God, I thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Lord, I pray that You will make me spiritually beautiful. I thank You that I am a new creation in Christ. Help me to walk in that truth today and wear that heavenly glow that only comes by spending time with You.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
Do you have any "cheap nails" in your life? If so, what are they?
Have you ever gone through a struggle and seen those "cheap nails" give way under the pressure?
What do you think it means to be a "new creation?"
Write today's truth on an index card and memorize it.
I always like to hear what my girlfriends in God are thinking. Let's talk about cheap nails and come up with a list. Visit my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and let's share our ideas.
More From The Girlfriends
Every woman loves the thought of a day at the spa. If you'd like to learn more about becoming spiritually beautiful, see Becoming Spiritually Beautiful - Seeing Yourself Through God's Eyes. (This book by Sharon Jaynes was previously titled Experience the Ultimate Makeover).
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