The ancient Greek word “tragomaskalos” means ‘with armpits smelling like a he-goat’.
Surely that’s almost NEVER good!

Things aren’t always what they seem.
Sometimes, you will meet people who appear to be full of confidence, but they are, in fact, wearing an elaborate mask, hiding huge insecurity.
Sometimes, you will meet a seemingly ugly person outwardly, who has huge inner beauty.
I have also met people who are beautiful on the outside and completely foul inwardly.
Never so with God.
What you see is what you get with God. Every time.
He doesn’t look one way and act another.
He IS love. Therefore He acts with love. He responds lovingly. He initiates love. He pursues us with loving intent.
He doesn’t just look a bit like love one minute and then change when it suits Him.
Love is His culture, His setting, His appearance and His cellular make-up.
There is a delightful French proverb that goes thus:
“By candlelight, a goat looks like a beautiful lady.”
We can get caught out by others.
We can never get caught out by Him.
If we trust with all our hearts, we will find our trust richly, deeply and joyfully rewarded by a loving, tender Father.

True – whether we are as ugly as sin, or as beautiful as Jesus.