Who do you favor in appearance in your family?
In our clan, my siblings and I do not resemble each other hardly at all.
In fact, when my 3 older sisters were in high school together, most folks thought they were just good friends rather than siblings. But there are other relatives that they resemble more.
As for myself, I never really thought I looked like any of them. Which played along very well with my sister’s tale, that when I was a baby I was left on our parents doorstep by a band of gypsies. And no one could track them down to make them take me back. Although, according to my “sister”, EVERY effort was made. (Gotta love her:)
This reminds me of something I heard once about our family resemblances.
I think most people have heard of Joyce Meyer and her ministry. Through the years I have listened to many of her teachings, and have learned a lot from her experiences, the failures, as well as the triumphs.
Well, one of those teachings I heard her speak about her first marriage, which produced a son whom she named David.
When she met, and married her second husband, who coincidently is named Dave, he legally adopted the toddler. From that moment on he took on the role/responsibility of Dave’s Father- financially, emotionally, lovingly … and permanently.
She recalls that at the adoption hearing the Judge explained in detail how this child now had every right to the Father’s name and property as any natural born child of his. There was no distinction between the two.
And Joyce said it amuses them when every so often someone who doesn’t know that David is adopted will comment how much “David looks like his Father.”
You know, this is a perfect representation of God’s kind of love, to total embrace someone else’s child as your own.
To feed them, provide for them, encourage them, nurture them, teach them, help them, correct them, stand up for them, share your everyday life with them, loving them just the same as you would your own natural child.
For just a moment, let’s say that I was adopted. It would be a lot easier to accept me as a young helpless baby.
But what about the same Brenda, yet 32 years later as a grown adult. With addictions, debt, bad habits, harmful relationships, negative attitude, pride, rebellion, fears, insecurities- emotionally and physically. Diagnosed with a sin nature.
Now, how easy would it be to embrace me with the same open arms, love and kindness that you would a small child?
Every person who has ever been born through a natural birth (exceptions- Adam, Eve, Jesus), has been born as a child of Satan with a sin nature because of the fall of man.
(Remember, no one ever has to teach a child to be act badly. It comes naturally. But, we spend years trying to teach them how to behave and treat others.)
So how awesome is it that God offers each one of us the opportunity to be adopted by Him and embraced as His very own, blood bought child.
It doesn’t matter what we’ve done, or what has been done to us, it only matters what Jesus has done FOR us.
So whatever condition we are in, or what we look like when our sinful nature dumps us on God’s doorstep, He embraces us with unconditional love and acceptance.
And if we make a decision to humble ourselves and accept God’s grace and mercy towards us, and when we call out to Jesus by faith and accept Him as our Lord and Savior through His grace, we are accepted in the Beloved.
His Holy Spirit supernaturally makes the exchange.
Everything that God has given His Son Jesus, Jesus shares equally with us. Our sin nature is replaced with His sinless nature. (Not that a Christian can’t sin, we no longer navigate towards it.) We are totally fresh, new and born again in our Spirit.
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer (persecution) with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:15-17 (Parenthesis mine.)
So now, I favor my Heavenly Father in the Spirit, and as I renew my mind/soul, then my body/actions will follow.
The Bible tells us so.
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
