To Be Like Him

This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself. He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them “human.” Genesis 5:1-2 (NLT). 

Sometimes I actually write something pertaining to the scriptures I read. Other times I have a thought and just rattle on.  I was thinking about how we often imitate our parents in ways we don't want to. We are influenced more by what they did and lived than what they said. I think of the words above where this NLT version says God made us to be like himself.  We are rational beings, we think and we make choices.  We gain wisdom from the bad choices we made in life. Even if I don't always quote scripture, it affects my life. I might not remember some things word for word but over the years following God has changed me. I don't remember every sermon but it has affected me. Just like the food my mother cooked in my growing-up years, I lived. That food, some I liked and some I didn't but I am alive today and a functioning human being because I ate at least some of the food. I hated chicken for some reason and tried to avoid it if I could. I would eat the liver and that was just about it. But my going to church for most of my life and listening to sermons has helped me to live a spiritual life, even if I don't remember every word preached or read. It still fed my soul and nourished me along the way. I look at messed-up families. The parents didn't set out to mess up their children it just happened as they dealt with their own sin issues. Something Andy Stanley said in one of his sermons I listened to stuck with me. Andy got it from someone else and I don't remember who that was. If we don't deal with our demons they dwell in the basement of our soul and lift weights. As I looked at family issues over the years I see that happen. A root of bitterness can take root in our hearts and grow and grow and even affect others in the family especially our children. We make choices and sometimes I made the right choice. I chose in spite of the mistakes I saw my parents make as Christians to continue my life as a Christian. I made some of the same mistakes in my own life. I actually patterned many things after what I saw more than what I was taught. In the same token, I hope I patterned after my Heavenly Father. Do you realize my Heavenly Father has had more time to influence me than my earthly father? I hope it shows. Someone once said, actually, it was probably more than one person who has said God finds us, we don't find him. How much have I actually patterned my life after my Heavenly Father? Am I really like him? I know God created me in his image but have I chosen to be like him? One of the reasons I choose a church to attend is I find people I want to be like. I know I dealt with some sin issues in my life and even today I still deal with sin issues. I just hope and pray that I resemble my Heavenly Father more than my earthly father.  God bless, LVZ.