File: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db940428.txt
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          OUR DAILY BREAD                         Thursday, April 28, 1994
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          Read:  Romans 8:18-30

                                 UNBLEMISHED BEAUTY

                      Whom He foreknow, He also predestined to
                        be conformed to the image of His Son.
                                    --Romans 8:29

          Women in nearly record numbers, we're told, were drawn in envy to
          the  picture  of  a well-known movie actress on the  cover  of  a
          popular magazine.  She had been portrayed as possessing  flawless
          beauty.

          But  the editors of another magazine published a follow-up  story
          telling about a photo company that had billed the first  magazine
          $1,525  for  their work on the picture "to clean  up  complexion,
          soften  eye  line,  soften smile line, add color  to  lips,  trim
          chin,...adjust  color, and add hair on the top of the  head."  So
          however beautiful she actually is, she needed something--quite  a
          little it seems--to hide the blemishes that would quickly destroy
          her image of "ideal loveliness."

          What a picture of man's spiritual condition!  Every one of us  is
          flawed  when compared with the moral excellence of  Christ  (Rom.
          3:23).  No  matter how good we may appear, we need  more  than  a
          religious  touchup to conceal our sins.  We desperately need  the
          soul-cleansing,  atoning  blood of Jesus Christ.  When  we  trust
          Jesus  as  our Savior, God gives us His  flawless  righteousness.
          From  then on, He works within us by His Spirit to conform us  to
          His likeness.

          Are we making the unblemished beauty of Christlike character  the
          daily goal of our life?

          Author:  Vernon C. Grounds

                       Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
                        All His wonderful passion and purity;
                     O Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
                       Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
                                      --Orsborn

          THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
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          The most beautiful people are those who remind us of Christ.

          THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Psalms 52-54

          Our  Daily  Bread, Copyright 1994, used by  permission  of  Radio
          Bible   Class,  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan  49555,   USA.   Written
          permission  must be obtained from RBC for any further posting  or
          distribution.  RBC  provides a variety of Bible resources,  which
          are  free  of  charge.  RBC  is  not  funded  by  any  group   or
          denomination,  and support come voluntarily from its members  and
          friends. Write for more information, or call 1-800-598-7221.
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Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1994, used by permission of Radio Bible Class,
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA. Written permission must be obtained 
from RBC for any further posting or distribution. RBC provides a variety
of Bible resources, which are free of charge. RBC is not funded by any
group or denomination, and support comes voluntarily from its Members
and friends. Write for more information, or call 1-800-598-7221
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