Looking Like My Father.

Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Looking Like My Father. It happens pretty often, actually. Anytime anyone sees my dad and then sees me, like clockwork they’re more than likely going to say something about how much we look alike. Our hair is the same color (minus the few additional gray hairs he has than me…but I’m catching up!). Even some of our facial features are similar. As I continue to grow older I find that many of his hand gestures and figures of speech have worked their way into my life as well. (Oh foot fire...)
But I’ll be very honest with you – I really don’t mind. I’ve been blessed with a Godly dad. All my life he’s been a hard worker and good provider for our family. He’s loved my mom, and set an example of what marriage should look like for his children to see. He knows the Word, and loves the Word. So for someone to say I resemble him is a compliment.
But in the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit – the characteristics people say they see in me that remind them of my dad aren’t intentional. The hair obviously just happened thanks to genetics. The other things have worked their way into my life after all the time spent with him over the years. It happened because his blood flows in my veins and I’ve spent time with him. Can you see where I’m going with this?
As much as I’m honored to look and resemble my earthly dad, I so much more desire to resemble my heavenly Dad. I want to model His characteristics in my life here. I want others to look at me and be pointed to Him. I want to live a life of His kind of love, patience, grace, mercy, compassion, righteousness, passion, selflessness…need I go on?
I’ve already got one thing going for me – I have His blood flowing through my veins. When we come to Christ and accept Him as our Savior, a blood transaction takes place. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, our sins are paid for and covered by His blood. So when we come to accept that gift as our own, His blood washes our sin away. And we become adopted into the family of God.
Scripture says we are “grafted into the vine” of God’s people. We become one of His. And because it’s a blood covenant, we actually become a blood relation of the God of the universe. So His DNA is in us. It’s expected that we would resemble Him in some regards.
But to truly look like and resemble Him in our lives, we must spend time with Him. I’ve got to hear Him speaking to my heart on a regular basis so I can speak like Him. I’ve got to see Him moving in my life on regular basis so I can live like Him. And in order for those things to happen, He has to be enough of a priority that I’ll desire to spend time with Him daily (or even several times a day) and then follow through.
So go ahead, tell me I look like my dad. It’s a compliment. He’s a good man, and I’m thankful for him. But I long for the day when someone will be able to say, “Man, you sure do look like your Father.” I live for just that.



That’s just a thought, and I welcome yours.
Until next time,
blake

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