To show you what God sees as beautiful, Peter offers a contrast. In vs.3, he says – Do not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear. This is not saying that you aren’t allowed to braid your hair or wear gold jewelry. Otherwise, it would mean that you can’t wear clothes, either! No, Peter isn’t saying that. The Bible isn’t teaching that. This is saying that when it comes to true beauty, as God sees it, external things aren’t as important as internal things.

It’s not necessarily wrong for you to make yourself up, as long as it doesn’t become your main focus. It isn’t a sin to be pretty. It isn’t a sin to dress up. But most people are focused on the externals. So, lots of people will appreciate them, and be attracted by them. But those inner things are not as obvious. Less people will notice them, because less people are looking for them. And less people have eyes that can truly see them. The truly beautiful, in God’s eyes, are attracted to those who are truly beautiful, in God’s eyes.

We ask, God who do you want me to marry? Well, it starts right here. You have a lot of liberty in choosing your partner. But if you want God’s opinion on where to start looking, here it is. Get your eyes on God’s prize.

The Greek word translated as “adorning” in vs.3 is “kosmos”, which you’ve probably heard as “cosmos”. It is also translated as “world”. Like John 3:16 – For God so loved the world (kosmos). And the point I’m making is don’t let your world be all about externals. True, godly beauty from the inside, flowing on the outside, this is what will magnify you in the eyes of those who can truly see beauty as God sees it.

What God says is imperishable beauty is more beautiful than mere “hotness”. Think about it this way; the hotter something is the more meltdowns you’ll have. What good is a hottie when they’re just a hot mess?

So, what does a gentle and quiet spirit mean? It means someone who is not coarse and loud. It means someone who is humble and peaceful. Gentleness doesn’t mean acting weak. It means your strength is under control. Quiet doesn’t mean you never speak up. It means you know the role of submission as God sees it. You are a supportive person, not an obnoxious person.

The hidden person of the heart means the inner life. But it comes out in how a person lives their life, how they act, and react, and relate to other people. Someone with eyes to see as God sees will see that gentle and quiet spirit, that humble demeanor, that peaceful attitude, as a beautiful adorning, and see you having an imperishable beauty that God sees as precious.

Hotness will melt away. But what God calls beautiful is imperishable. In other words, it will not melt away, but it will burn like no other fire can.

If you’re not married, then put this into practice now. Find the right fire in the first place. Ask the Lord to help you see attractiveness as he sees attractiveness. And then start the fire. You can make yourself attractive to the right person by becoming one yourself.

If you are already married, focus on your inner person and not simply on the outer person. And focusing on your spouse’s inner person will help you show them that they are not just a body, they are a soul. If you are married, get yourself focused on becoming what you want your spouse to be.