Resembling Our Father

We are sons of God.

You might have heard the saying, “Like father, like son.” You can tell things about someone’s dad by the way his son acts. Jesus was a perfect demonstration of His Father’s character. One of Jesus’ disciples once asked Him to show him the Father. Jesus’ reply was,

Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (John 14:8-9)

As we come to know our Father more deeply, we will want to be more like Him. The family resemblance should be so strong that others see the Father in us. Here are some ways others should see our Heavenly Father in our lives:

1) Doing His Works.

We read earlier in Matthew 5:16 that we should do good _________ so the Father gets the glory. We look for opportunities to cheerfully serve others.

2) Making Peace.

Jesus in Matthew 5:9 said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called ________________.” We must not only refuse to angrily argue with others but graciously introduce God’s peace and love into our relationships.

3) Loving enemies.

Look up Matthew 5:44-45 and fill in the missing words, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be ______________________________ who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

As God’s children, we are to be just as merciful as our Heavenly Father. It’s hard! We need His love. God will give us this love as we seek Him for it.

4) Loving one another.

Our relationship with our Father should directly translate into love and care for others in God’s family. No sibling rivalry allowed! “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).

5) Expanding God’s family.

God wants a big family! Jesus fulfilled what His Father purposed for Him. But there is still more work! He now sends us out to finish the work. “As You sent Me into the world, so I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:18).  

Application:

(1) Bring to mind a person you have been an enemy with. Ask your Father to give you His amazing love for this individual. Then do something nice for that person.

(2) Who is the Lord urging you to share the Gospel with so that the Father might work through your life to bring someone to know Him just as He did with Jesus?

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