Aren’t you like your dad?
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith…
Galatians 3:26 (NIV)
Oh no, here comes a friend of my parents! I was shopping with my mother and being a teenager was totally bored with the whole experience. What is exciting about buying school shoes? Now we encounter this old family friend and I just know what she is going to say. Within seconds I was proved right. ‘Oh my,’ she exclaimed, ‘aren’t you like your dad!’ I smiled and squirmed with embarrassment – I could not think of a reply that was polite so remained silent. Why do children dislike being told they look like their parents?
A dear friend of mine recently paid me one of the highest compliments I have ever received. I do not remember the circumstances, but she exclaimed, ‘You are just like your dad.’ The difference between these two occasions was that my dearly loved father had been dead for 20 years, so it was not a reference to him, but a kindly and respectful reference to our heavenly ‘Dad’. I was so touched and humbled that she saw Jesus in me. All credit and praise to Him for working within me.
Genesis 1:27 tells us that God created us in His own image: ‘So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’ By believing in our great God, we become His children: ‘Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…’ (John 1:12).
As children we relished the praise and approval of our parents. Psalm 147 shows us that we too should seek our Father in heaven’s love and approval: ‘His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.’ (Psalm 147:10-11 ESV).
As children of our loving God, our faithful endeavours need to reflect Him in all that we do. For me, I want the world to see so much more of Jesus in me instead of my old self – I have lots of work to do – join me!
Prayer
Loving Father, thank you for your precious Son who has given us sonship. By your grace may we reflect Him in all that we do. Amen.
Study by Irene Wilson
Irene Wilson is a Deaconess in the Watford congregation of Grace Communion International, and also serves on the Pastoral Council.
Local congregation:
Gracecom Watford
St. Peter’s Church
61 Westfield Avenue
Watford, Herts.
WD24 7HF
Meeting time:
Saturday 11am
Local congregational contact:
George Henderson
Email: watford@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church