You're Just Like Your Father

My parents divorced when I was 5. Sometimes when I would do something wrong or something that made my mother angry she would say "You're just like your father."

Ephesians 5 opens with Paul telling the Ephesians that they were to be imitators of God as dear children. He goes on to say that if we are imitators of God, fornication, covetousness, foolish talking, and course jesting is unfitting for us. Because our children spend so much time with us, there are ways in which they imitate us. Little girls like to help mom clean and bake. Little boys like to help dad build and fix things. This is why the retail store sells products for children such as toy vacuum cleaners, ovens, dishwashers, lawn mowers and tools. However, children not only imitate what we do, but who we are. Many times we see ourselves in the strengths and weaknesses of the behavior of our children.

What does it mean to be "imitators of God?" 1 Peter 1: 15, 16 says "but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'." We know we will never be completely holy until we go to be with Him in the final resurrection, but we are to strive to be holy as He is holy. No one has ever seen our holy Father except Jesus, but He became flesh to dwell with us and show us who He is (John 1:14). In John 14:9 after being asked by Philip to show him the Father, Jesus says "He who has seen Me has seen the Father."

If we want ourselves and our children to be imitators of God, we must spend time with Him actively in His word. Can you imagine my thoughts today if my mother said "You're just like your Father."