Beautiful to God
What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
Psalm 8:4
When Denise began dating her boyfriend, she attempted to maintain a slim figure and dress stylishly, believing she would be more attractive to him in that way. After all, it was what all the women’s magazines advised. It was only much later that she discovered what he really thought: “I liked you just as much when you were heavier and didn’t worry about what you wore.”
Denise realized then how subjective “beauty” was. Our view of beauty is so easily influenced by others. It’s often focused on the external, forgetting the value of inner beauty. But God sees us in only one way—as His beautiful, beloved children. I’d like to think that when God created the world, He left the best for last—us! Everything He created was good, but we’re extra special because we’re made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).
God considers us beautiful! No wonder the psalmist was filled with awe as he compared the greatness of nature with humans. “What is mankind,” he asked, “that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:4). Yet God chose to give mortals a glory and honor that nothing else had (v. 5).
This truth gives us an assurance and reason to praise Him (v. 9). No matter what others think of us—or what we think of ourselves—know this: We are beautiful to God.
By Leslie Koh
REFLECT & PRAY
Father, You know how insecure we can feel about ourselves. Thank You for the assurance that You love us!
How do you see yourself? How do you think God sees you?
Your gift changes lives. Help us share God’s love with millions every day.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
It’s interesting to note how the writers of the Bible reference other Scriptures. Psalm 8 includes David’s poetic echoes of what’s recorded in Genesis 1:26: “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’” Centuries later, the writer of the book of Hebrews quoted Psalm 8:4-6 to note mankind’s failure to fully realize the dominion mandate and to note the ultimate fulfillment of it in Jesus. Speaking of Christ, Hebrews 2:9 says, “But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Arthur Jackson
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