An Uncommon Beauty

Today, the name Susan Boyle is an international vocal artist, but before she took the stage of Britain's Got Talent in 2009, she was virtually an unknown. Compared to the other contestants on stage, she was just a plain Jane person .... not physically beautiful at all.

No one expected much out of her when she raised the microphone to her lips. But when she opened her mouth and began to sing, her beautiful and powerful voice filled the auditorium, resulting not only in the judges being taken by surprise, but in their standing ovation for Ms. Boyle at the end of her performance (see her latest performance in America here).

Both the judges and the audience were delightfully surprised that such a beautiful song came from the voice of such an unlikely source. As followers of Christ, we too can be unlikely sources when it comes to the teachings of Jesus flowing out of us. As common folk, we can take turns on the stage of life in front of a worldly and skeptical audience, so they will hear and see God's forgiveness, love, mercy, and grace emerging from our lives.

The apostle Peter reminds us that we are: "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that [we] may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9 ESV).

We might think that we are an unlikely source, but when we allow the Lord to work His will through us (Hebrews 13:20-21; cf. Philippians 2:13), we, like Susan Boyle, become an uncommon beauty —  one to whom the watching world will stand up and take notice of (Acts 4:1-13).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets

More of Susan Boyle: Here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here