“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” — 1 Peter 3:3-4
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The Fiesta Bowl in January 1987 was the de facto national championship game. The contest pitted the 11-0 Penn State Nittany Lions against the 11-0 Miami Hurricanes, the nation’s two best teams throughout the 1986 season.
The favored and ever-confident Hurricanes adopted a brash attitude in the lead-up to the showdown and changed into military fatigues during the team’s flight to Tempe, Arizona. When the Hurricanes arrived, they exited the plane as if they were stepping into a combat zone. The in-flight outfit adjustment sent a loud statement to Penn State, the media, and college football fans everywhere. Penn State, however, made its statement on the field. The Nittany Lions slowed the dominant Hurricanes and won, 14-10, for the program’s second national championship in five seasons.
Miami and Penn State both made statements that January night that caught the attention of onlookers. But Miami’s faded, while Penn State’s was recorded in the history books. The thought and energy the Hurricanes poured into trying to impress people with their bold fashion choice didn’t achieve the desired results; Penn State’s 1986-87 team will be forever remembered as champions.
In the same way as Penn State, Christians too should spend much less time worrying about their external adornments and much more time seeking to cultivate inner Godliness. First Peter 3:3-4 says, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
These sentences were written most directly to women in the early church, but the broader point applies to us all: Do not elevate aspects of yourself that fade (clothing, health, physical appearance, status symbols, academic success) above the imperishable beauty of a life lived in joyful submission to Christ.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with donning cross necklaces or tattoos of Bible verses, and God loves when His people are physically healthy and academically successful. However, all of these external adornments are sure to fade. They are worthless without a childlike faith that embraces Jesus Christ as Lord and falls upon His grace as the Savior of your soul. This is what is “of great worth in God’s sight.” Don’t let your “off-the-field” adornments overshadow the far more important work God is doing in your heart.
Which external adornments are you tempted to pursue? Which ones clamor for your attention and lead you to neglect the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit? Put them all away and make room in your heart for Jesus to draw you evermore to Himself.
— Kevin Mercer
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