The Family Resemblance

James 1:23-24 (NIV)
Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Parents are often surprised at how similar their children are to them - their interests, characteristics or even in the way they speak. As grownups, we sometimes notice certain qualities or tendencies in our lives that we remember seeing in a grandparent, parent, aunt or uncle, but had never realised that we too had these traits when we were younger - or how much some of their qualities have impacted ours. 

In God’s design, there is so much more in ‘the family resemblance’ than simply the outward.

This does make me wonder. Having surrendered my life over to God and chosen to learn more about him, how much of what I am resembles my Heavenly Father? 

I know the Spirit is working on me, like a potter repurposing a lump of clay so that little by little, more of me could look more and more like Jesus, the Son of God.

James uses a powerful analogy, shifting from a literal mirror, which would just reflect what our face looks like (flaws and all), to God’s Word as a mirror, which would reflect the condition of our heart.

When God convicts our hearts, most of us sincerely seek repentance and ask God to change us from the inside out… but 30 minutes later we have forgotten that prayer. So, James is reminding us that when we spend time in God’s Word, we must let it take root in our hearts so that we do not forget what God expects to see in our lives - so that we do not let him down.  

Prayer - Father God, I love you and want so much to be more like you so that others might see Jesus reflected through my life. Help me to invest my best in learning about you in your Word, so that I become less like myself and more like You.