I Saw Me in His Likeness

Last weekend as I sat sharing a meal around a table in a local restaurant, we were having a discussion. During this the point was made about how we, as women, "fix" ourselves up to make us feel better about ourselves. A statement was made about trimming hair and having layers added, or putting on a bit of make-up to feel prettier whenever a lady starts to feel down on her appearance or whenever they are going through a particular situation. 

Now I know what we believe as Apostolic believers, to not cut or even trim our hair for it is our glory and that we do not wear make-up to cover that which God has created.  But when you begin working with someone who is new to the Apostolic faith, you have to teach them. You also have to let the Holy Ghost move them to change, not demand.

As I thought about these statements which were made throughout this week, I've had various thoughts go through my mind. I remembered when I came into the church 5 years ago. I was only 5 months removed from a haircut that had the length of my hair about even with my chin with a shaved undercut and being dyed a bright red that was almost orange 😬.  A lot of that had grown out and had gotten back down to the top of my shoulders but I was fighting the itch to cut.

At that point, I was also wearing pants, shorts and had absolutely zero issue rolling my shirt sleeves all the way up to the top of my shoulders and tucking them while I was working just to stay a little cooler. I was a volunteer firefighter and acted more manly than my husband did. I had make-up in my bathroom closet that I would put on when I wanted to "dress up" for some special occasion and had all the hair tools to do something to my hair even though I knew nothing about styling.  

But when I came into church and God found me, He changed me.  There is a Talley Trio song that says "He saw me, in His likeness,
He saw me, just like Him! Pure, clean and Holy, spotless, white within! But He saw me bound in heavy chains, And longed to set me free. But He knew that if I became like Him,
He must become like me." Jesus came into the world and took my sin upon Himself so that I could live that pure, clean, holy life. 

In Psalm 139:13-17 we read, "For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them" 

I have underlined and boldened a few things in this passage. God created you and I in the secret place of our mother's womb, forming and shaping every part of who we are. Before our mother ever saw us, He saw us. And He saw every unperfect thing that He created in us that makes us uniquely ourself. That freckle on your chin that you try to cover, He made it to make you stand out. That weird way that you smile, He did that too.  

As I thought even more, all I could think was how God created us perfectly in His image yet we try for a lifetime to hide His creation. On a daily basis we look around and see the beauty He created around us, yet look at our own reflection and cannot see that same beauty. We can see the smallest fragments of beauty, even in the darkest storms as they roll in. How can we not see that same beauty within ourselves? 

I learned a song many years ago which talked about seeing God in someone's eyes. As I thought this week, I asked God to let me see me through His eyes. I didn't want to see what someone else sees in me or be told what they see in me,  I wanted to know if when He looks at me if He sees Himself. I can't say that I've gotten an answer on that yet. What I do know is that He doesn't see who I was 5 years ago. I would dare to see that He doesn't see the same me I was a year ago. 

I know that I cannot change someone's view of themselves, especially if things they see when they look in a mirror are a result of bad decisions on their own part. The only thing I can do is continue to share the truth of the Word ans pray that the Lord opens the eyes of their understanding.  

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