“REED” This

Who Do You Look Like?

I recently came across an old photograph. It was one I don’t remember ever seeing, and certainly don’t remember it being taken. It had to have been from late 1986 or early 1987, as I believe it was the last photo taken of my father and me together before he died. We are standing side by side in what looks to be my grandmother’s, his mother’s, kitchen in her house on Wolfe Street in Madill, Oklahoma. From his illness and how he was standing, it’s the only time it looks like we were the same height. In good health, he was a good three inches taller than me. I decided to post that picture on Instagram and Facebook this past Sunday, which was Father’s Day. I thought it would be a nice tribute to him, even though he didn’t look his best due to his cancer treatments at the time. Several people commented on the picture with many of them saying how much my sons look like me, as I was only 18 in the picture, much slimmer, and had no beard. Through the years I have thought many times about the similarities in our facial features and/or build.

We’ve all heard or said, “He has your eyes,” or “She has your nose.” People will look at newborns and try to see the mother or father in them, “Now, who does he/she look like?” Everyone is always looking for those family resemblances. As parents, we are always wondering what our children will look like before they are born, when they are children, and even how they will look as adults. As I was reading the comments about my boys looking like me, I began to think, “Do we look like our Father?” I know we can’t see God because God is Spirit. But as Christians, do we look like Him? When people look at us do they see Jesus? Do they see His love, His compassion, His mercy, His grace? Do they see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control? Those are the fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-23) and they are to be seen in us. Too many times we are caught up in the world and our lives are not displaying these qualities and characteristics. Yet, these are the characteristics of the Spirit, of God, and we are to be like Him. We are to be Christians, “little Christs”, showing that we belong to Jesus and that Jesus has made a difference in our lives. We need to look like our Father. We need to look like God. The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:1-2a, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.” And Jesus says in Matthew 5:16, “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” When people see us, our actions should point to God because we and those actions ‘look’ like Him. Then, they can praise Him and He will receive the glory.

I enjoy the fact that my boys look like me in some ways. It’s always fun to find the family resemblances. But my prayer for them, as it is for myself, that we all look more and more like our Father in heaven. 

Bro. Paul Reed

Tuesday, June 22, 2021