My Father's Daughter

I know many people (myself included) who take after their dad in more ways than one.  I often find myself thinking, "Oh, he talks just like his father.", "Wow, she looks like her dad!"   "They all have his smile."  etc.  and I am sure you have done the same at some point.  I myself resemble my dad in many ways - in our personalities, sense of humor, mannerisms, looks, height (!) and the list goes on.  (In saying that, however, I have people swear to me that I look just like mum and they can't get over the resemblance!  Honestly - some people!  :)  )
Why do we look for resemblances anyway?  I think it is because we like to identify people.  I look like my dad and have similar mannerisms, so people know that I am his daughter and associate me with him.

Remember that Amy Grant song "Father's Eyes"?  The chorus goes:

She's got her father's eyes
Her father's eyes
Eyes that find the good in things
When good is not around
Eyes that find the source of help, when help just can't be found
Eyes full of compassion, seein' every pain
Knowing what you're going through, and feelin' it the same
Just like my father's eyes 

Obviously, she is not singing about her biological father - she's singing about her Heavenly Father.  That's how we need to be.  We need to resemble our Heavenly father so much that there can be absolutely no doubt - when people look at us, all they can see is Him.  How awesome would that be!

But, I'm afraid, it is a process of growing in His grace, and at times the way will seem abnormally and exasperatingly slow.  Be encouraged!  We are all on the same road and we have all been in that place of slow growth; that place where things are painful and even seen to be going backwards. It is in these times that our faith is tested and if we stay close to our Lord, we will come through stronger and more mature in our faith than ever before. It is like a bone that, having been broken, has healed crooked and is now disfigured.  It kind of works, but it is flawed.  What must be done to such a bone?  It must be re-broken, reset, and allowed to heal.  It is a painful process and rather slow, involving surgery and hospital visits.  But what is the result of the pain and the waiting?  Once the cast is removed, the arm is as good as new again.  It is strong and is no longer disfigured, but whole, resembling the other arm.  Yes the process was long and hard, but it was worth the strengthening and 'rebirth' of the arm.
2 Corinthians 3:18 says "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."  We are being transformed into the same image of our Lord, from glory to glory!  Let me say it right here, right now:  if you are a born again believer washed clean by the blood of Jesus, you are a glorious being!  Yes you!  The Bible  says 'from glory to glory'.  Not from rags to riches, or "maybe one day, you will achieve Mayfair - collect 200 as you pass go."  No, it says from glory to glory - we are glorious in the sight of God, and we need to reflect that glory where ever we go.

Remember Moses, when he asks to see God's glory?  God passes before Moses with His back turned and Moses hidden away in the cleft of a rock.  Yet when Moses descends from the mountain, his face is shining with the glory of God because he just had a 'God-moment'.  The people cannot look at him because he reflects the glory of God and the resemblance is too much for their sinful heart to bear.

And as we increase in glory, people will look at us and say, "She is her Father's daughter."  "He is his Father's son."  There will be no doubt. 

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  (Matthew 5)

My love to you all in the Lord Jesus,

Emily