Amazing Transformation of Character

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. Psalm 17:15.
Jesus came to restore in man the image of his Maker. None but Christ can fashion anew the character that has been ruined by sin. He came to expel the demons that had controlled the will.
The Lord Jesus is making experiments on human hearts through the exhibition of His mercy and abundant grace. He is effecting transformations so amazing that Satan, with all his triumphant boasting, with all his confederacy of evil united against God and the laws of His government, stands viewing them as a fortress impregnable to his sophistries and delusions. They are to him an incomprehensible mystery. The angels of God, seraphim and cherubim, the powers commissioned to cooperate with human agencies, look on with astonishment and joy, that fallen men, once children of wrath, are through the training of Christ developing characters after the divine similitude, to be sons and daughters of God, to act an important part in the occupations and pleasures of heaven.
They were purified in the furnace of affliction. For Jesus’ sake they endured opposition, hatred, calumny. They followed Him through conflicts sore; they endured self-denial and experienced bitter disappointments. By their own painful experience they learned the evil of sin, its power, its guilt, its woe; and they look upon it with abhorrence. A sense of the infinite sacrifice made for its cure, humbles them in their own sight, and fills their hearts with gratitude and praise which those who have never fallen cannot appreciate. They love much, because they have been forgiven much. Having been partakers of Christ’s sufferings, they are fitted to be partakers with Him of His glory.
In their untainted purity and spotless perfection, Christ looks upon His people as the reward of all His suffering, His humiliation, and His love, and the supplement of His glory—Christ, the great center from which radiates all glory.
The Faith I Live By p. 142
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Mary and Derrick who were in a bad accident. Rose
—-I could really use some Prayers. Have been in the Hospital With Real Bad Pneumonia. Cheryl
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Dear Friends,
Ron has always enjoyed camping. It seemed to help him to be able to relax—something rare for him. One time, when Ron was about 14, he went camping by a lake with his family. They spent a lot of time relaxing and enjoying the water. Ron could feel all his tenseness disappearing.
Suddenly, something happened that changed all that. While he and his brothers and sisters were having fun dunking and splashing each other, he noticed a child who was in trouble. The boy had gotten out over his head and it was soon apparent that he didn’t know how to swim. Going rapidly over to where this boy was, Ron pulled him to safety.
The little boy was filled with gratitude. For the rest of the time they were camping, he followed Ron wherever he went. He wanted to stay right by the one who had rescued him. Ron was his hero. He watched everything Ron did and tried to be just like him. Ron got no more relaxation that camping trip. He spent most of his time trying to hide from that little boy.
How much we are like that boy—drowning in sin. Things seem to be going fine for awhile in the “lake” of sin we have stepped into, until suddenly we find we are in over our head. We struggle and fight to stay “afloat,” but it soon becomes apparent that we cannot save ourselves.
Praise God! There is One Who has rescued us. We do not need to drown in sin. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isa 53:4-6 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16.17 Think of it! Jesus has not only died for our sins, but He offers us eternal life in His Heavenly Kingdom.
Because He has rescued us from certain death, we should be filled with love and gratitude and desire to follow Him wherever He leads. “We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John4:19 “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deut 6:5 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1John 5:3,4 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” James 2:17,18 John tells us, “whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:5,6
Our Rescuer does not feel like Ron did, when the little boy followed him everywhere. No! Our Dear Saviour longs for us to follow Him, yearns for us to copy Him, wants to be with us every moment, is always listening for our prayer. Indeed, it is His greatest desire. He promises, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb 13:5 From the time He commanded, “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” to the plea “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” to its ultimate fulfillment “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” our Great Creator’s Heartfelt desire is to be with us continually.
Ex 25:8; Rev 3:20; 21:3,4 What wondrous love!
May we be filled with love and gratitude for His Great Gift of Salvation. May we do those things that are pleasing in His sight because we love Him. May we follow the Lamb whithersoever He goes both now and eternally is my prayer.
Rose