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I have three daughters, and they are often told "you look like your mom" or "you act like your mom". My first response is to apologize, but what else could I do? I can't help it, they got stuck with my genes. There is no getting around it. They are my daughters, with the same genetic code.
Has anyone ever told you, "you look like, or act like Jesus"? That would be the greatest compliment. It should be said often, because our father created us in His image. Genesis 1:26-27 , God said "let us make man in our image".......we can only assume God is speaking in terms of the trinity; God the father, God the son, and God the holy spirit. These words express the wonder of his creativity. God intended that people would bear his imprint and rule the world. We would reflect His identity and represent Him to all of creation. We are the instruments God chose to love the world.
Did God intend for others to see Him when they look at us? Indeed! It is not what we do, as much as who we look like that does this work. Study his face, learn from Him, spend time with Him in His word, listening, praying, receiving, and gradually, you will start to look like Him. As it is, when you spend time with anyone, you begin to take on their characteristics.
What are some characteristics of God, Jesus and the holy the Holy Spirit? John 4:8 says, God is love. 1 John 3:16, says Jesus laid down His life for us. And then Galatians 5:22 says the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. He looks like love in all ways. He looks like grace, when others need it. He looks like..... caring more about others than oneself. He looks like giving to others in need. He looks like forgiveness. He looks like all good things. This is the image of God and the characteristics that he imprinted on us.
It is only when the cares of this world cloud the image of Him in us that we begin to display the characteristics of the old self, and we all know what those look like. Galatians 5:24 says "those who are Christ's (know Jesus in a personal way) have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the spirit, then let us also walk in the spirit" That means living out the characteristics of God. And we do that by sitting at his feet, staring into His face, listening and learning, until once again we start reflecting the one who made us and designed us to look like Himself.
Then we are ready to meet our challenges, be a wife, parent our children, be a neighbor, and love others as He intended. And it becomes effortless and natural because God is living through us and He shines!
This week, watch for the characteristics of God in yourself, and when you see something not of God, crucify it. Allow only those things that look like God, to be present in our life. Also, be attentive to the images of God we see in others, and tell them so they might be encouraged in the direction of looking more like their daddy, God, the one who created them in His own image.
debbie walker
