EPHESIANS 5:1-2
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
TO PONDER
I know have talked about this before, either in a sermon, or maybe a past daily devotion, but I love the idea that Paul is presenting here. I love the language Paul uses here and in a few other places that get me thinking about family resemblance.
In both my own family and also my wife's families, there are some fairly distinct physical family traits. In my wife's family, mostly with the men, there is a very distinctive nose. You can often tell if a man is connected to the Wegener family by the distinctive size and shape of his nose. The von Stanke men, although not so much me, generally have these really flat and broad fingernails that are quite distinctive. My grandfather, father and brother all have them - mine look more like mum's.
Whether it is a physical trait, a family tradition, a specific behaviour or turn of phrase, most of us have something that identifies us as part of our family of origin. And it should be no different with the family of God. As we grow in maturity win our faith, we should grow to resemble our Heavenly Father more and more. Maybe not physically, but in the way we love, serve, and care for others. In our attitudes of generosity and gratitude, patience and reconciliation. These things identify us as people of God.
The hard part here is that if we are going to follow the example of Jesus, who 'gave himself up' for us, then it means we should be prepared to stop living our lives only for ourselves and allow the love that Jesus has for us, to inspire us to live our lives in service of others, so that they too might come to know the love of their Heavenly Father, and begin to resemble Him more in their daily lives too.
Follow God's example then. Most family resemblances don't require effort, they just require proximity and time. If you want to follow God's example and resemble him more closely, simply start by spending good quality time with him on a regular basis. If you do this often, I'm sure you will be amazed at how quickly the family resemblance begins to shine through.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Thank you that through your son Jesus, I have access to quality time with you. Please help me to prioritise that time and to allow your proximity to me, to change my heart and my life so that I carry more of a resemblance to you and others might come to see Jesus alive in me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle