Eating supper with a cousin last evening, I noticed the family resemblance. I had not seen him since he was a baby. But visiting with him I saw similarities to my grandfather, my uncle, and one of my cousin’s sons. Every family has certain characteristics which may show up in later generations.
How do we recognize God’s children? If we only had the Old Testament, we might say, “Well, only the Jews are God’s children.” Galatians reminds us that God has expanded his family by adoption. We are all God’s creation, but more specifically, we become God’s children by faith in Christ Jesus. Our baptism clothes us with Christ.
How large is God’s family? It includes Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ. Slaves and free, males and females who believe all become one in Christ Jesus. As the children’s song explains, “Father Abraham had many sons. And many (kids) had Father Abraham. And I am one of them, and so are you. So let’s just praise the Lord!”
Sooner or later God’s children begin to look like our Father. He is loving and so are we. We become holy as he is holy. When others get to know us, they may wonder, “Why is she the way she is? How did he become like that.” If in the next moment, they say, “They are becoming like Christ,” then we are showing our family resemblance.
