I h
ave a confession to make. I hate garage sales.
Digging through other people’s junk just isn’t my idea of fun. And, of course, there’s the minor problem of getting up at the crack of dawn to confiscate the best treasures before anyone else. Besides that, in order for me get to a garage sale, it would require me to get up even earlier so that I could apply make-up to my aging face. I don’t go anywhere without make-up. Call it insecurity, vanity, whatever you want, but it’s my desire to present a good image wherever I go. Even if I’m in sloppy clothes, I can put on a better face if my “face” has been applied!
You see, down deep, I’m a Macy’s girl.
I love the whole image of that store. Just imagine walking into Macy’s and inhaling the pleasing aroma of perfumes and colognes. Saunter a little farther and peruse beautiful jewelry and pleasing displays of clothes. I don’t even realize I need any of these items until I discover I’m gazing longingly at them. Everything in Macy’s speaks to my outward image, what I need to look like, and how I want other people to view me: beautiful and put together.
Beth Moore talks about the kind of image we portray in her study, Daniel, when she says that this is part of the Babylonian mentality of being self-absorbed. In Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar built an image to himself for others to worship. What kind of image am I building? Am I building an outward image only, presenting myself as something different than I really am?
Do I look like Macy’s, but I’m really a garage sale?
The Bible says, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV) So, what does God see when he looks at my heart? Bitterness, envy, and unforgiveness or love, grace and patience?
You can rest assured that I’m not advocating going home, throwing away your make-up and getting rid of nice clothes. Instead, let’s take an inventory of our hearts. What’s in yours? Are you building your own image or one that looks like Christ? We are made in God’s image, to reflect His character. We need to be intentional about what type of image we are building so that what we are presenting to the world on the outside is truly a reflection of His image on the inside.
By Annette Stonger, Renewed Heart
Leave a Comment
After I read your words, I glanced up and saw my Red Letter Words print that says, “She knew that she was created in His image.” I’m so glad that the image we need to share is ultimately a reflection–a mirror of the One who made us, loves us, and promises to finish the good work He’s doing in us. Woo-hoo! That’s better than a yard sale or the best one at Macy’s. 🙂
Holley, am I ever thankful that God is finishing the work that He began in us. Some days I am sure that I am a poor reflection of Him in my attitude, my treatment of my family, etc, yet, thank goodness that His grace is sufficient and He is not finished with me!
Great post! Good thing I only have to reflect HIS image – love, goodness, kindness.
Personally, I’m a garage sale girl – always hunting for a good bargain to accentuate my reflection of HIM!
God has created us all uniquely different, hasn’t He?! I like to hunt for bargains too…at Macy’s!! Keep reflecting Him…
great reminder!!!! goodness, that’s good stuff!!
Thanks, Becky! We all need that reminder to look inside ourselves.
So, so true! I think I am going to have that question, “do I look like Macy’s when I am really only a garage sale?” running through my head for awhile. Thank you so much for these wonderful words today! 🙂
Vanessa
This image is a good reminder for me as well! I love to look and dress nicely, but what truely counts is if His image is being reflected through me to others.
Psalm 130: 23-24 “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” This is a daily prayer for me to pray. Thank you for the reminder to continue this prayer.
I love this verse as a prayer! Another verse I often pray is Psalm 51…”Create in me a clean heart, O God…” Only God has the ability to create something beautiful in my life. Thanks for sharing!
I used to be a Macys girl also, but I have not been even in the store for 1 whole year, having a goal of paying off all debt, I have avoided the temptation, and I also have taken a challenge of not buying anything new for one year. Drawing the line at shoes,undies and beds. Funny I should get this email today as when driving through downtown, I passed by Macys and saw a painting that I have to have and actually wondered how much credit I have on the card these days. Silly girl.
Gotcha, Jan! It’s so much easier for me to not know what I’m “missing” if I don’t enter the store. They sure make all the displays attractive and tempting, don’t they? What a great goal you’ve undertaken…but I’m curious about throwing beds in your line up??!! Doesn’t seem to match up with the shoes and undies…but if the mattress is falling apart, you’ve got to have it!! I guess I was expecting bras or something. 🙂 You definitely don’t want to get into the debt trap again! Keep it up and keep reflecting Him…
I would be a Macy’s Girl if I could afford it, so I am a thrift-store girl. That’s the superficial me. Deep down I am a thrift-store-garage-sale-girl. I take pleasure in finding hidden treasure and getting a great deal! It’s easy to get distracted by shiny things. Things that don’t matter. I wish I had realized this much, much sooner in life!
I love your insight!! I know you can find hidden treasure in thrift stores and garage sales…I just don’t want to dig through it all. I’m thankful that we are treasures to God and each uniquely created by Him. We certainly don’t need all the extra trappings to be valuable in His sight! Thanks for sharing…
I adore the last line of this blog post.
Thank you, Lis!