Quote from Forum Archives on October 13, 2011, 10:54 am

Posted by: edwrather <edwrather@...>

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The Burning Bush Devotional
Welcome to the 7624 new subscribers since January 1, 2011!!
There were 4010 new subscribers during 2010!!

10.13.11

In His Image

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of
His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. - Romans 8:29.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the
Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as
by the Spirit of the Lord. - 2 Corinthians 3:18.

Herbert Chavez who lives in the Philippines is being transformed by plastic
surgery to look more and more like Superman. He has had surgery on his chin,
his nose, and plans to have surgery on his abdomen. He has also had silicone
injections and implants. Chavez says, "I have been a life long fan of
Superman after being given the costume when I was a child. As I am only 5
feet 6 inches and Superman is 6 feet 2 inches I wouldn't rule out surgery to
make me taller." Chavez is also a collector of Superman memorabilia and his
home is filled up with Superman collectibles. (Orange News 10.10.11)

If you know Jesus as your Savior, there is a change going on in your life.
Herbert Chavez is changing himself to look more like he thinks Superman
should look like. God is changing His children spiritually to be more and
more like Jesus. We are not doing the changing. You are not doing the
changing. God is at work in your life through the Holy Spirit, and you "are
being transformed."

I am far from being perfect, but God has been at work in my life chipping
away at all the things that do not conform "to the image of His Son." The
lies that used to so easily flow from my mouth have been chipped away. My
desire for riches has been chipped away. My selfishness is slowly being
chipped out of my heart. My worldly lusts are being removed piece by piece.
Sometimes this renovation project that God has going on in my life is
enjoyable, and sometimes it is far from enjoyable; in fact, it is downright
painful. Looking at the image of Jesus that I see painted in the Word of
God, I can see that there is still a long, long way to go before this
transformation project that God has begun will reach completion.

How can God ever change the wickedness of my heart, or the wickedness of
your heart? I do not know, but as the apostle Paul told the Philippians
(Philippians 1:6), "being confident of this very thing, that He who has
begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." I
do know that God will never give up on what He has begun in my heart and
life. He will bring it to completion. God is not going to give up on what He
has begun in your life either. He will see it through to the very end.

We have the promise of God that some day, some how, we will be like Jesus.
We are told this in 1 John 3:2, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it
has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is
revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." Let us hold
onto this promise of God that some bright shining wondrous day "we shall be
like Him."

Copyright © 2011. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent. Ed Wrather began writing devotionals
in the early 1990s. The distribution of these first devotionals was
primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent to prison facilities
throughout the United States and Canada.

Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer
Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they will be
forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always in need
of prayer - please pray for me.). Please pray for our grandson, Mason
Wrather, as he recovers from surgery. Please pray a member of our church who
is battling cancer, Connie Bryan.

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