Today’s scripture: Ephesians 5:1-2 (NRSV) (The Message). This passage challenges us to be imitators of Christ. As you read, ask “What one single trait of Christ would you most like to ‘inherit’?”
My thoughts on this passage (Morgan Stewart):
In a souvenir shop over summer vacation, a lovely cross-stitched plaque caught my eye. It read: A mother’s children are portraits of herself.
As an adoptive mother, I felt a twinge of pain as I gazed at my young twins. In their faces, I see strong resemblances to the strawberry blonde young woman I met some 8 ½ years ago. Fully freckled and towering above me in height, she is their birth mother. Can it be that my girls are actually absent of my own reflection?
Many things came to mind about my own mixed bag of genetic “roots”. I am an adoptive parent, but also an adoptive child. As an adult, I can easily see that I carry traits of both my biological parent and my adoptive parent.
I’m sure it’s the same way with my daughters. While their impish faces sport freckles and dimples from another source, my Christian values, sunny disposition and even quirky sense of humor reside there as well. Like me, they seem to be a blend of those who birthed them and those who raised them.
It’s similar for all Christians. While many of us sport our biological parents’ facial features, we are just as likely to bear some marks of our heavenly Parent’s nature — perhaps God’s love, generosity, kindness, joy or peace.
Thought for the day: Celebrate the blessing of being related to our heavenly Parent. As God’s children, we are indeed a portrait of our creator.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. For help in getting started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.