God Loves Fat!

Not only does God love fat, but He ree-hee-healy (thank you Jim Carey) loves fat.  Listen to this…the word fat is used 110 times in the New King James translation of the Bible.  Out of those 110, nearly 100 refer to something our Heavenly Father likes.  In fact, it was what pleased Him most in many Old Testament sacrifices. Check out this verse (wish there was a “LOVE” button here):

Lev_3:16: and the priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma; all the fat is the LORD's.

ALL the fat is the Lord’s.  He wants to make sure no one else is getting any of His fat!  This fact is repeated over and over again in several verses.  Fat was sweet to the Lord.  He even loved the aroma of it!

I’m not (repeat NOT) making a theological statement here, but I’m wondering:  Has the devil influenced our culture (and for that matter most of the world’s culture) to HATE fat simply because our God loves it so much?  That big ugly liar likes to pervert and ruin everything else God loves, why would he stop with the cute padding on our hips?

I realize that most of the mentions of fat in the Bible are in reference to animal fat, but here’s a thought-provoking verse that shows God’s heart toward His  human kids:

Mal_4:2  But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

There’s really no denying that “growing fat” is a good thing in this verse, is there?

Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating a new trend toward life-threatening obesity.  That’s often linked to gluttony, which we all know God most definitely does NOT love.  But I am thinking a little differently about this whole FAT issue.  I think God likes my fat.  In fact, I think He loves every dimple on my pudgy little legs.

And…I'm pretty sure He loves every dimple on your cute little legs, too :)

Are you an Hourglass or a Magnifying Glass?

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 1Corinthians 6:20

Beauty is important, there is no mistaking that. But it is possible to make a mistake when deciding whose beauty is most important: ours or God’s.

As I was thinking about this issue recently, I had a somewhat goofy thought (the natural product of a goofy gal).  I started to think of this beauty decision as simply this:  Do I want to be an hourglass or a magnifying glass?

As an hourglass, we will live each day as if our beauty is most important.  Anything that tells us we’re not beautiful enough has the potential to devastate us - especially if hormones are in play. We will be desperate to do all we can to maximize our own beauty.  We might spend money we don’t have on clothes, make-up or cosmetic procedures.  We might work our bodies to exhaustion in an  attempt to be perfectly firm, tone, and perfectly shaped – like an hourglass.  Thoughts of our own beauty, whether good or bad, will occupy our minds regularly.

As a magnifying glass, we will live each day as if God’s beauty is most important.  Anything that tells us God is not beautiful will devastate us, and we will strive to make decisions that glorify Him.  In the Greek, that word glorify from 1 Corinthians 6:20 means “to magnify.”  Are we living our lives in such a way that when people look at us they see the beauty of the Lord more clearly?  If so, we’re being a magnifying glass.

So this is the question we must ask ourselves: When people look at me, do I want them to be amazed with my beauty, or with God’s?

We don’t have to look a certain way to magnify God’s beauty.  I think some of the best “magnifying  glasses” I’ve ever seen were the exact opposite of worldly beauty.  I remember seeing a guy on YouTube who had no arms or legs.  Someone would set him on a table, and he would share life-giving and empowering messages with school kids - encouraging them to love the life God has given them.  I couldn’t help but be amazed with God’s beauty as I watched him.  He’s a magnifying glass.

And think of Mother Teresa. An elderly gal with a lifetime of wrinkles and drab clothing, but absolutely adorned with the  beauty of the Lord.  It’s nearly impossible to look at pictures of her loving on the world’s hurting without seeing a little more of the heart of God.  She’s a magnifying glass.

I think I’ll put a post-it note on my bathroom mirror (and maybe several other places) that says, “Be a magnifying glass today!”

Wanna join me?