THAT SON OF YOURS LOOKS JUST LIKE YOU

Someone just last night told me something I hear often: "That younger son of yours looks and acts just like you-same mannerisms, expressions and all." That's scary. We parents duplicate ourselves. That's the inescapable thing about genetics. You pass your traits on to your children. Sometimes there is more of a blend of both parents' dominant genes. And then there are throwbacks from a more distant ancestor. Yet, our children bear our stamp. The same should be true spiritually. When we are born again as children of God by the Spirit of God, shouldn't we get the spiritual genes of our Father? Shouldn't it be noticeable that we have His likeness, His mannerisms, His expressions? I know that there are things other than genetics. Some things children pick up from the example of their parents. Some things are taught to offspring by their parents. But, genetics play a huge role. Some of his older siblings were teasing the younger son about not really being our child. Some one spoke up and said, "Anybody can tell that isn't true. All you kids look too much like your parents and like each other." When some one claims to be a child of God and bears no likeness to the Father, isn't there great reason to doubt? The word "gene" is rooted in the Greek word for "birth." If we are born of God, we will spiritually bear His genes. We will have His likeness. I don't know if my son will feel complimented or condemned by hearing he bears my likeness. But, it is of great compliment to the believer's life for another to note and comment on the likeness between him and His heavenly Father.