Delight in Beauty

Scripture: Philippians 4:8-9 (NRSV)

There’s a fascinating teaching in Judaism called hiddur mitzvah. Hiddur means to “make beautiful.” Mitzvah means “commandment” or “good deed.” Hiddur mitzvah is a spiritual summons to make life and faith beautiful, to express your walk with God artfully and humbly. Trust and obey, yes, but also seek to beautify your faith and God’s commandments. Let your life be a masterpiece, a work of art, that points people to the Great Artist, God. The ancient rabbis taught that every opportunity to obey God was also an opportunity to adorn or beautify God. Paul talks about that too in our Sunday Scripture reading:

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

In the Spirit of Christ, let us ponder what is beautiful, practice what is beautiful, and pass on to others what is beautiful. This is a great antidote to anxiety and a powerful witness to our messy and chaotic world.

October 17, 2021 – Online Service Bulletin and Bible Study

Sermon Art: “Bouquet of Sunflowers” by Claude Monet, 1881

All of our sermons are available in our Library of Sermons.

Other Sermons In This Series

Hungering for Relationship

September 12, 2021

The Search for Meaning

October 10, 2021

A Longing for Justice

October 03, 2021