The simultaneous beauty and danger of raising children is that they quickly learn to copy you. You notice your habits and mannerisms reflected in their words and actions, wondering where they got that from? Small minds are observant and absorbent.
Of course, God designed it that way, and the process is intended to reflect Him. Deuteronomy 11:18-21 shows how His ways are preserved and passed down through the generations:
“You shall lay up these words of Mine in your heart and in your soul … You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land …”
For hundreds of year, God’s people lived that way.
Then, in the most earth-shattering, eternity-changing act of love, God sent His own Son to live as one of us. Anointed as Savior, He became “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) … And a type of older brother in the family of God (Hebrews 2:11).
Romans 8:29 expounds, “For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
To confirm this after His resurrection, Jesus called His disciples “My brothers,” specifying, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17).
We belong in the same family with the same Father, who sets the perfect example for us to copy in Christ.
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps”
– 1 Peter 2:21
That means dying to sin, living to righteousness, suffering submissively, remaining above reproach, and entrusting ourselves to God (22-24).
Paul even said in 1 Corinthians 11, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1).
To live like Jesus is to live in and live out love, for “by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
We must follow every movement, hang on every word, obey every command.
God the Father affirms, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”
God’s Provision: “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).
Word of the Week: Structure. Jesus Christ is the blueprint and the finished product. Joining and holding everything together, He acts as the cornerstone of the foundation of the household of God (Ephesians 2:20) and the head of the body of believers (4:15-16).
Abby
