Have you noticed that you may do something that resembles your father? Maybe it is how you clean the shed, mow the lawn, or how you eat? This is called a replicative script.[1] “You look just like your father,” “we know where he gets that from,” or “I see his dad in him.” Ever heard those said? Usually, appearance, qualities, certain quirks, and speech patterns, show the resemblance between father and son, or father and daughter. Some sons may even take similar interests and mothers know that time has come when the child says, “mommy, where’s daddy?” While you may look like your earthly father and were known to do the things he did, do you look like your Heavenly Father? No person has two biological dads. It is also true that no one has two spiritual fathers, just One (Matthew 23:9). Those who have been baptized into Christ have become children of God (Galatians 3:27). While not born of literal descent, we were adopted into His family (Galatians 4:5; 1 John 3:1). All children resemble their father in some way, and such gives great honor to a father. Do you honor your Father (Malachi 1:6) by looking like Him? Ephesians 5:1 reads, “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.”
Do You Wear His Name Unashamedly (Revelation 14:1)?
Taking the name of the father has been a practice for centuries. Eve took Adam’s name (Genesis 5:2), Jesus was called “the carpenter’s son” (Matthew 13:55), and those in John’s day thought he would take the name of his father (Luke 1:59). Taking the name of another shows attribution and possession; no father would accept that his son would wear a different name than his. Since God is the Father, He chooses the name (Isaiah 62:2; Acts 11:26). With this name in mind, do you honor it by living right? Some children dishonor their family name by the way they live. Is the name of God blasphemed among the Gentiles (Romans 2:24) because of your actions? Synonyms of Christians are given all throughout the Bible which show how a Christian can live to uphold this wonderful name.
“sons” (Romans 8:14). This word shows family. A son is under the direction of his father.
“saints” (Ephesians 1:1). This word shows holiness. Children of God are to live holy lives so as to honor their Father’s name.
“priests” (1 Peter 2:5) This word shows sacrifice (Romans 12:1). They are to sacrifice sin, forsake worldliness, and neglect anything so as to uphold their Father’s name.
“disciple” (Acts 16:1). This word depicts a student. Christians are God’s students, who uphold their Father’s name by diligently studying (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15).
Upholding the Father’s name demands that one be a son, saint, priest, and disciple. Children of God can be confident in wearing the name “Christian” if they follow the right path. No child of God should ever be ashamed to say that he is a child of God. Do you wear your Father’s name unashamedly?
Do You Resemble His Appearance?
Many resemble certain comparative outward, physical appearances with their fathers. Maybe they both have the same nose, similar eye shapes, or body build. While no Christian will resemble God in physical form (John 4:24), they must resemble Him characteristically (1 Peter 1:14-16). Ask these three questions:
Do you walk like Him (1 John 1:5-7)? His sphere is the light. We walk like Him when we follow the light (Psalm 119:105). Walking like our Father means that we do not walk like anyone else.
The world (Ephesians 2:2).
Satan (Ephesians 2:2).
Evil influencers (Proverbs 1:10-15).
We must be set apart (2 Corinthians 6:16-18). While this walk will not involve perfect sinlessness, it does involve sinning less (Romans 6:6; Ephesians 4:22; 1 John 3:9). A father was walking in the snow and his daughter behind him. She tried so hard to jump in the same footprints as him, but she kept missing. To the right, left, too far, or not enough, she was not perfect in her attempts. Although she did not get her feet exactly right, she tried her best. No one would have said she stopped following her Father. No Christian will be perfect, but it doesn’t mean they have stopped following their Father. Do you follow in the footprints of your Father?
Do you love like Him (Matthew 5:43-48; 1 John 4:7)? Interestingly, some children adopt their love language from their parents. We should model our Father’s love language to children of God (1 John 3:11-18; 4:20), our enemies (Matthew 5:44-48; Romans 5:8), and for the lost (John 3:16). God displays His love through the five love languages (touch [John 10:28-29], time [Hebrews 13:5], affirmation [2 Peter 1:3], acts of kindness [Psalm 77:11], and gifts [Ephesians 2:8-9]). How can we model such? Touch the hurting (James 1:27). Give time to children of God by exhorting (Hebrews 10:24), to enemies by kindness, and the lost by teaching (Mark 16:15). Speak kind words to all (Colossians 4:6). Do good deeds and give gifts to everyone (Galatians 6:10). Are you loving like your Father?
Do you talk like him (Proverbs 15:26)? You have heard it said, “he sounds just like his father,” or “wow, I just sounded like dad there.” Children resemble parents’ speech patterns. Do you resemble your heavenly Father’s speech patterns? Do you Have the same tone of voice (Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 4:6)? Say similar phrases (Ephesians 4:29; Proverbs 25:11-12)? Refrain from cursing (Ephesians 5:4)? The more you surround yourself around Him, the more you will begin to talk like Him. Do you resemble your Father in the way you talk?
Will You Share the Same Address?
There are many addresses in which where we would love to live. Maybe it is Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA. What about 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006 (the White House). While such addresses categorize earthly dwellings, what about an address that has a mansion on it (John 14:1-3)? Usually, children live with their parents. For some this is not the case, until a certain age, many children live with their legal guardians. Funnily, children long for the day of independency and freedom from their parents’ home, but beautifully, children of God long for the day they can live with their FATHER forever (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Hebrews 13:14). Since God the Father dwells in heaven (John 14:2), we should want our address to look the same as His one day and become citizens of His spiritual nation (Philippians 3:20). Since it is not a residence built with physical hands (2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 11:10), it takes spiritual dedication to get there (Colossians 3:1-5). Will you share the same address with your Father one day?
Since our Father is so great, we should want to look like Him. Instead of making others our role models, let us make God and Jesus the ones after whom we model our lives. You are privileged to be a son or daughter of God (Galatians 4:5-6; 1 John 3:1-2), attempt to model Him every day.
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