The Attractiveness Of Christ

As believers, we don't see God with our natural eyes but perceive Him through faith.

However, we all have an image of God through what we read and understand in Scripture, the fellowship with other believers and by our life experiences.

This morning during prayer, I felt impressed by God to read Isaiah 53 where the image of Jesus, the Messiah, is given a few descriptions.

We read in verse 2, "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." (NIV).

Jesus is tender yet breaks through the parched landscape. What greater dry ground is the hearts of His own people steeped in unbelief! Unlike the religious rulers, He didn't come with force, shoving and elbowing His way into the hearts and lives of His people.

He was not considered handsome (as the original language defines) nor was His appearance regal, full of splendor that we should be attracted to Him. Unlike today's culture, where we are drawn to those in the media who are rich or beautiful, to kings and queens and all the pomp, movie stars or other notable figures because of the image they represent.

Then the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart. How many times have I stumbled over what I believe God should look like in certain circumstances? When I'm facing a hard time at work, for instance, I pray a strong prayer of God the warrior to fight my battles. Or when I'm confused or anxious, I see Him as a God of comfort, much like a mother, for example, to soothe my fears. While these may be true of His character, God often comes in a very ordinary and plain way.

I found myself repenting of these images because what the Lord was saying to me was often behind these images is idolatry. There is something in my heart that will not let go of what I expect God to look and act in certain ways when faced with problems and difficult circumstances. How many times did I miss Him because I was looking for a self-made and self-appointed image of God?

Beloved, God may appear today in your life in a very unexpected way. If you are struggling with an addiction to drugs or drinking God will walk through walls and appear to you. Who knows...it can be a knock on the door from an old woman next door bringing you an apple pie that eases your loneliness. It can be a gentle touch from a nurse to steady your nerves while waiting for a Dr.'s report. The touch is God's way of comforting a troubled mind.

Ask the Lord to tear down and uproot these images of Him. And pray as Paul prayed, open the eyes of my heart. There is something very attractive about Christ who appears like a gardener who speaks your name, like Mary experienced. Or on the Emmaus road when the disciples who couldn't tell it was Jesus said didn't our hearts burn when He spoke!