Family Traits

Chuckle: A man was looking at himself in a mirror. He said, "I look horrible, I feel fat and ugly. Please pay me a compliment." The wife said, "Your eyesight is near perfect!"

Quote: "Spiritual growth involves a constantly changing conception of a changeless God." --William Arthur Ward

IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY

"Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother" (Mark 3:35 NLT). “Listen to your father, who gave you life”  (Proverbs 23:22 NIV). “Honor your father and mother –which is the first commandment with a promise” (Ephesians 6:2 NIV).   

On several occasions, I have been told that my son’s voice sounds like mine, especially during telephone conversations. How often have you observed that someone walks, talks, acts, or looks like his or her parents? We call these characteristics family traits, and we sometimes hear words like, "it runs in the family." We all are aware that the DNA of our parents, grandparents and more distant ancestors determines our physical characteristics and their influence on our lives determines how we sound and how we act.

In our passage, Jesus says if we do the will of God, we are His family. Also, in Ephesians 2:19, we are told that we are "members of God's household." If we are members of His family, our lives will reflect the traits of Jesus -- we will become like Him. People will be reminded of Him when they see or hear us. I'm reminded of the words of the apostle Paul: "Your attitude (mind) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5 NIV). Of course, it is our attitude/mind that determines how we talk and act. It is God's will that we become more and more like Jesus each day and exhibit the family traits that we see in Him.

When Jesus was here on earth, he walked daily in close communion with and submission to His Father. When we do the same things, we share a family trait with Jesus as His brothers and sisters. The Bible tells us that we should "be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV). Our voices and our actions should be modeled after those of our Lord Himself.

Just as children imitate their parents who love them, it should be our desire to imitate our Lord. His great love caused Him to sacrifice Himself for you and me so that we might live. Our love for others should be just like Jesus' love for us -- a love that goes far beyond affection to self-sacrificing service. This kind of love should be a spiritual family trait in the family of Christ. It should run in our family. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Galatians 6:10 NIV).

Love, Jerry & Dotse