You’re Beautiful And Perfect

Her name is Sophia, she is a beautiful Labrador with a gorgeous coat and
personality. Her owners decided this would be the last time they would let 
her breed. The evening came when Sophia went into labor as her owners 
were at her side. Sophia was in labor for six long hours, before five 
beautiful little Labrador puppies were born. As the owners kissed Sophia 
and went to bed they thought it was over. Just as their heads hit the pillow 
they heard a noise that concerned them. When they went to check on 
Sophia and the puppies they found a sixth puppy had been born.

What they saw bothered them, as Sophia kept pushing the newest puppy
away from her. For some reason Sophia did not want anything to do with 
her youngest. Upon examining the newest born the owners discovered 
much to their dismay that the puppy was not like the other five. This puppy
 could not nurse as it was born hare-lipped and could not close its mouth.

The owners realized if the puppy could not nurse it would die. They 
decided to hold the puppy safe in their arms and to give it milk until it 
was able to eat. Around the clock they held this precious bundle of joy 
in their arms feeding it and assuring the puppy all was safe and well.

As the puppies got older the owners decided to sell the five as nobody 
would want to buy the youngest one with a hair lip. All five puppies had 
been sold when one night their doorbell rang and there stood a grandma 
and her grandson. As the grandma and her grandson were asking if there 
were any puppies left the last puppy started barking. The little boy took 
off, looking for his dream while the owners watched wondering who 
would want this puppy that was less than perfect. Before long the little 
boy came walking up the hallway with his head buried in the puppies 
body. He could be heard as he with much happiness loudly proclaimed 
to the puppy, “YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT!”

All of a sudden the owners got tears in their eyes as the little boy looked
up with a smile on his face. They had not noticed until this moment that 
just like the puppy this little boy was also hare-lipped. 

“YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT!”
Sometimes in life we ask, “God, why does it have to be this way? Why 
do you permit this to happen to me? ME OF ALL PEOPLE GOD!”
When the reality is that through our faith we are given a gift. A gift to
show others our testimony, how God has worked in our life. I know that
God believes in us. It us who often do not believe in ourselves.

We do not believe in ourselves because we allow the judgment of others
who do not know us to interfere in our own self worth. Just like the little 
boy and the puppy who did not ask God to be born with a hare lip we do 
not ask to not be loved because we are different. We do not asked to be
pushed away, we long to be a part of.

Open your Bible to Luke 7: 40-43.

“And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to
say to you.” And Simon answered, “What is it Teacher?” 
Jesus replied; “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed 
five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When one could not
pay, He forgave them both. Now which of them will love him
more?” Simon answered, “The one I suppose, to whom he forgave
more?” And Jesus said to Simon, “You have judged rightly.”

In examining this parable which debtor do you believe sinned more? 
The debtor, the sinner, with five hundred denarii (five hundred sins) or 
the debtor, the sinner, with fifty denarii (fifty sins)? Was one more of a 
sinner than the other? 

This parable is about the Pharisee and the woman who was a sinner,

Luke 7: 37-39.

When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned 
that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an 
alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet 
weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she
wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on 
them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he 
said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know 
who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—
that she is a sinner."

In this world there are those who judge another by looking at their 
outward appearance. Look at them and say, “OH YOU’RE DIFFERENT” 
and then push them aside. Push them aside to either make it on their own 
or to die all alone. Push them aside based on what they see and not 
recognize that they need to be loved, to belong. To have a purpose just 
like anyone else in the world.

From suffering can come pain. The Good News is that from this pain
one can gain strength from God’s love. It is all a matter of how one 
hears. The name Simon in the Jewish community means “hearing.” In 
life are you hearing that which the world judges you by or; Simon, are
you hearing what God says to you?

Are you the little boy and the puppy born hare-lipped and not being
accepted because you are different? Are you the Pharisee, judgmental
based on what your eyes see? The one who wants nothing to do with 
those who are different.

Reality is that we all are sinners, no one is perfect it is how one looks
at the challenge. The challenge is what are you going to do with your 
life, with the gifts that God has given you? What are you going to do to 
use those gifts to serve unto another?

The challenge is looking beyond the Pharisee’s in the world and Looking
to Jesus. Looking to Jesus for God loves us in spite of our sins and 
rebellion. Looking to make the choice to ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord 
and Savior. Asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins and inviting Jesus 
into your heart and soul. For then and only then is one truly forgiven of 
their sins and assured of a life ever lasting in heaven.

In the pain of feeling different, remember. Our Father Who Art In 
Heaven hears our pain, sees our pain, feels our pain. The pain of being 
pushed away, of being isolated while clinging for life. The pain of 
wanting to live but having difficulty finding the energy to live with.
It is at those moments that God the Father picks us up in His arms for
he knows we are unable to walk on our own. It is in those moments 
when God holds us in His arms, nourishing us with His unconditional 
love and care. 
The price for His love? It was paid in full on a hill far away in Calvary.
Irrelevant of how much your debt, your sin, our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ paid it in full for you and I.

Country western star Sammy Kershaw sings the lyrics,

“She don’t know she’s beautiful (never crossed her mind) she don’t 
know she’s beautiful (no she’s not that kind.) She don’t know she’s 
beautiful though time and time I’ve told her so.”

God knows “YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT” for he has made 
you that way. 

Luke 7:50,

“And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you;
go in peace.”

Go in peace resting in the arms, the protection and love of God. In your 
daily walk know that YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT just the 
way God has made you. He was a little boy who didn’t know the puppy 
was hare-lipped. You see in the eyes of God we all look alike.

Let us pray,

“OH FATHER, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN MY LIFE. I AM A
LIFE THAT WAS CHANGED, FOR YOU LOVE ME JUST THE WAY
I AM. UNCONDITIONALLY. May I look myself in the mirror and 
proclaim with love and joy; YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT 
FOR YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD!”

Amen


06/13/2004 JWM




Back To Sermons