Good morning and a most blessed Thursday to you.

I was recently walking through my neighborhood and noticed a home for sale. As I passed by, I saw a small additional sign attached to the main "For Sale" sign that read, “I'm beautiful on the inside.” Naturally, my mind immediately shifted to a theological reflection. I thought, No person in their right mind could truly claim that—at least not in and of themselves.

As Christians, we know that on the inside, we are born sinners. We carry the mark and stain of sin from birth. Left to ourselves, we cannot claim to be beautiful on the inside.

As I continued to think about that phrase, a couple of verses came to mind—Psalm 139:23–24:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

These verses remind us that God knows our hearts—our innermost selves. The psalmist invites God to search him, to see what lies within, and to cleanse what is not right. Where there is sin, the plea is for cleansing. Where there is wickedness, the cry is for transformation and redirection toward the way everlasting.

That leads me back to the phrase, "I'm beautiful on the inside." On our own, we are not. But as Christians, we also know that God’s own Spirit lives within us—and God’s Spirit is pure beauty.

Galatians 2:20 echoes this truth:

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

So when we wear the label "I’m beautiful on the inside," there is both a falsehood and a deeper truth. The falsehood is rooted in self-confidence apart from God—we are sinners, broken and stained. But the deeper, eternal truth is this: through Jesus Christ, who lived, died, was buried, rose again, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, we have been made new.

He has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within us. It is not we who live, but Christ who lives in us.

So when we invite people to know us—not just as individuals, but as children of God—we proclaim something powerful: "I am beautiful on the inside." Not because of who I am, but because of who lives in me. Christ in me. Christ in you. We live forgiven. We live redeemed. We wear His righteousness, His justification, His beauty.

Therefore, you can wear that tag. You can say, "I’m beautiful on the inside," not with pride in yourself, but with praise to God for what He has done. Let the beauty of the Lord shine through you. Pour out His Spirit as He has poured it into you. Share the good news that we all are invited to be made beautiful from the inside out—through Jesus Christ alone.

Let us pray together, as the psalmist once did:

Lord, search our hearts. Search our thoughts. Where we struggle with sin, cleanse us. Where we wrestle with pride, envy, gluttony, lust, or anger—purify us.

By your Holy Spirit, make us clean. Lead us in your righteousness and on the path that leads to everlasting life.

As we live in this world, help us to present ourselves as your redeemed children—loved by you and proclaiming all that you have done to make us beautiful.

Thank you that it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us. May we go forward today and always, living by your Spirit, sharing your love, and proclaiming your work.

We lift this to you in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Have an amazing rest of your week. Go out boldly wearing that tag: "I am beautiful on the inside," because it is no longer you who lives, but Christ who lives in you.

And that is very, very good news.

God bless.

Pastor Malinak