December 8, 2017 - - Ephesians 5:1 Resemblance

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

Ephesians 5:1 NKJV

Recently my aunt looked at me and said: "You are looking more and more like your grandfather."

Now, understand that I loved my paternal grandfather very much. He is the only one of my grandparents that I ever got to know. He was always kind to me.

However I remember him as very heavy-set, and he always had his pants up to his armpits (that is how I remembered him when I was young) and was bald. Oh yeah, if it was even just one minute after 12 noon, then he would have a cigar (one of two Dutch brands: Ritmeester, or Witte Os) clenched between his teeth.

My cousin, intuitively noted that I was processing this and wondering how much of a compliment it might be, prompted her mother to amend that statement by adding something like: "And he was handsome."

My aunt pursed her lips in a mix of a grimace and a flicker of a smile.

I quickly took that in, turned to my cousin, and jokingly said: "My aunt can't lie, it isn't in her."

We all laughed.

Still, an important truth emerges. It is my desire to be recognized as a dear child of my Father in heaven. It is my desire that people who see me or hear me speak will say: "You must belong to God as His child."

Spirit of the Living God teach me the way of Christ my King. Spirit, empower my obedience to Jesus and the Bible so that it may be evident to all that I am a child of my Father in heaven. Amen.