Ugly By What Standard? - The Swan - The Character of Creatures

This is a chapter from the book The Character of Creatures: What the Animal Kingdom Teaches Us About God and His Word.

Ugly By What Standard? – The Swan

Hans Christen Anderson wrote a story about an “ugly duckling” that was a swan adopted by ducks. The ducks ruthlessly made fun of the swan until he grew up. If you measure the beauty of a swan by what a handsome duck looks like, the swan will fall short. But an adult swan is a far more majestic bird than a duck.

God shows us with the swan and the duck:

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.                                           ~ John 15:19

Discussion:

1.      Have you ever been made fun of for loving Jesus or trying to keep his commandments? Were the people making fun of you of the world, or of the kingdom of God?

2.     The world measures success in money, possessions, victories, and accomplishments. Jesus measures success in faithfulness. Unbelievers can gain the whole world and lose their soul. Would you rather be beautiful in God’s eyes or the world’s?

3.     Jesus made the world very mad just by being himself. Our goal is to be like Christ, right? If they crucified the Lord of Glory, should we expect better treatment?

The ugly duckling in the age-old children's story only found suffering until he discovered he was really a swan. It is no different with you. Only when you know your real identity can you achieve your real potential. ~ Adrian Rogers