A Family Resemblance

1 Peter 1:14–16 – “14as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’”
 
I remember taking my boys to a restaurant, and as I was up walking around getting some food, somebody called me over by name. They said, "Josh," and I looked and recognized some lifelong friends of my parents. I hadn't seen them since I was a kid, but I went up to them and warmly greeted them. These were sisters, and they asked, “Do you remember us?” And I said, "Certainly I remember you." I said, "I am surprised you recognized me." They said, “We knew it was you… You walk just like him." I asked, "What do you mean?" They said, "You walk just like your father." As a grown man, I was looking over some old family photos, when I came across a picture of my dad in a sleep position. I thought, “That’s my natural sleep position.” Now, I haven’t tried to model my dad in how he walked or slept. It’s just natural to me. I share similar traits with my parents.
 
I spoke with someone years ago who told me about their siblings who didn’t realize either existed. They were separated at birth and adopted into families from different countries. Decades went by, but they were curious about the possibility of having siblings. They found one another by researching online, and they met up with each other in their late thirties. As they talked about themselves to each other, they realized they stood the same way. They had similar tastes in food. They also discovered they responded similarly to different events that had happened in their lives. It was just natural to them. They reflected one another because they came from the same parents.
 
In the same way, God has planted His Spirit inside of His children. We should naturally reflect Him, no matter what environment we find ourselves in. If you're in a Roman colony, if you're in America, if you're in a workplace or school that is hostile to your Christian faith, you can be holy. Why? Because there's something on the inside of you that is different than what the world has all around them, and His name is Jesus. His Spirit is on the inside of each one of us and “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). We can be holy, because He is holy.
 
Notice this phrase - “as obedient children.” We know slaves have to obey their masters. We know that employees obey their bosses. However, sons and daughters should WANT TO obey their parents. In the same way, we as children of God, should be able to say from our heart, “I WANT TO please the Lord Jesus Christ.”
 
Paul said in Galatians 1:10, “I'm no longer a people pleaser. I only live to please God. If I were still a people pleaser, I would not be the servant of Christ” (see 1996 New Living Translation). You're not going to be able to please this world and please God. You're going to have to make a decision. 1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” In the Greek he is really saying “Stop loving the world.”
 
James 4:4 says, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Your allegiance is to one or the other. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (money).”
 
When Peter says, “Be holy, for I am holy,” he is quoting Leviticus. Imagine the scene from Isaiah 6:1-8, where Isaiah sees a vision of heaven, with angels surrounding the throne of God. They are saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty.” This word means “pure,” “distinct,” or “separate.” This describes how the Christian can be viewed as well.
 
Don't be afraid of being the only person you know of that is standing for God’s Word. Don’t be afraid of being the only person you know of that is going a certain direction, as long as you are sure it is following God’s Word. There's coming a day when we'll exit this world, and we'll stand before God. As a Christian, don't you want to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” If I haven't pleased anyone else, I want to please God.
 
“Dear God, I want to reflect You to a watching world. I want to be holy. Please continue to work inside of my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I may express the character of Jesus Christ. I love You. In Jesus’ name, amen."

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