No Longer Ordinary Oct 08 2011

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him." - Isaiah 52:3b

Okay, folks, here is another devotion that really deserves to be repeated. Especially since we seem to be seeing more and more signs that Jesus' return is approaching.

Our society worships outward appearance. Hollywood stars are usually good looking guys and gorgeous women. The ordinary actors are more often relegated to supporting roles. So, when God sent His Son to be the biggest star the world's stage has ever known, He chose for Him to look very ordinary. It seems very unlikely that He looked like the beautiful pictures we have hanging on our walls. In other words, He wasn't much to look at. Now, that might surprise us in thinking about the Son of God, but God sought to identify with the majority of us. There are very few Hollywood beauties, but there sure are a lot of us ordinary-looking folks.

But that was in His earthly ministry. What does He look like now? The Bible tells us that He gave a sneak preview to His three closest disciples. One day, Jesus led them up high on a mountain, "...and He was transfigured before them; and His face shown like the sun, and His garments became as white as light." Someday, Jesus is coming again and we will all easily recognize Him as the Son of God. And more good news for those who trust in Him: we'll receive new bodies -perfect bodies - that never get sick and tired, that never age and die. Like Jesus, our new bodies will be dazzling, and we ordinary folks will be eternally grateful.