Growing and Changing Into God’s Image

3/14/2025

If you consider even the 12 apostles, even at that level, even personally walking with Jesus, sleeping on the ground with Jesus most nights, side-by-side with Jesus in the crowd listening and learning for three and a half years... Even with that gift of “apostle” and hand picked personal training, the majority of those guys—most could not even name to this day, having read their names in the Bible for decades. Most of what they offered to Jesus after He went back to heaven until He Returns was faithfulness and loyalty, not splashy, large, mind-bending oratory. John maybe. Peter maybe. But mostly, even the handpicked apostles offered not power, power, power, but loyalty, faithfulness, and responsiveness, even at personal risk. That shouldn’t be a big surprise, but it probably is. We’re spoiled. :-) Certain personality types crave “a sign” but really don’t want the sign of Jonah, the resurrection of Jesus, to be mostly what it’s about. Not power, power, power, but loyalty and faithfulness, and responsiveness even at personal risk—that’s what we each offer until He turns the page. Ready for anything but content in everything that looks like growing into the full measure of the stature and the character and the personality of the Christ, Jesus.

This last sentence is enough, enough, enough. For it is the growing and changing into His image that is the display of His splendor.

And that is by far the biggest miracle that could ever happen on planet Earth. The inner life of a selfish human being “changed into the family likeness” of their creator. “The cherry on top” of visual rearrangement of molecules such as mountains moving and health being restored are extra, but only meant to be “signs following” when it works out that way, but not the goal itself.

Written last week... from the heart of one who used to be depressive and anxious, but is no longer... : )

My Garment of Praise

The Spirit of the Lord has come and given bright new start,

He’s set this captive free from chains and bound this broken heart

I trade my ash for beauty and for His crown of joy,

His oil of gladness overflows, while despair He doth destroy

I will wear His garments of praise,

Clothed in salvation, bright as the day

In Jewels of Light adorned I dance

In His robe of righteousness

Dressed in joy, arrayed in love,

In worship I am free,

In this garment of my praise

He proves sweet victory

Planted like a mighty oak, for His glory I will stand,

To display His splendor and His works throughout beloved land

Through the ruins and out of shadows, His garden now will rise,

Worshippers in freedom’s bliss, under heaven’s open skies

I will wear His garments of praise,

Clothed in salvation, bright as the day

In Jewels of Light adorned I dance

In His robe of righteousness

Dressed in joy, arrayed in love,

In worship I am free,

In this garment of my praise

He Proves sweet victory

Come what may, my heart will sing,

For my Lord, my Covering,

These garments of Joy, I won’t forsake,

Put on in His Spirit by my Faith

I will wear His garments of praise,

Clothed in salvation, bright as the day

In Jewels of Light adorned I dance

In His robe of righteousness

Dressed in joy, arrayed in love,

In worship I am free,

In this garment of my praise

He Proves sweet victory

For the display of His Splendor...

I wear it! I wear it!! I wear it!!!