I was chatting with someone after church. They remarked that my children must’ve got their big brown eyes from their mother. I’m not disputing that, except that others have attributed their eyes to their ‘good-looking’ father! The fact is brown-eyed Mum and Dad have both got something to do with it.
Similarly, others can often pinpoint distinctive characteristics that they’ve inherited from their parents.
Adoption was a powerful image in the first century AD, when slaves were sometimes given the right to inherit from their owners. So Saint Paul, in the eighth chapter of his letter to the Romans, talks about the Spirit making people sons, or daughters, of God. He was indicating that a Spirit-filled life has consequences and should result in definite changes. The Christian becomes an adopted child of God (not slaves to Jewish Law, but free to enjoy a relationship with Christ, led by the Spirit).
I’m reminded of a gospel song by Amy Grant that’s entitled ‘Father’s Eyes’. The song is about a woman who wants to bear the characteristics of her creator, so that people say of her, ‘Aren’t you like your Heavenly Father!’
This raises the question, who do people see in me? Do they see a child of God?
Maybe today people will see that I’ve got my Heavenly Father’s eyes. At least that should be my prayer.
Prayer: Father God, lead me today by your Spirit that I may become like you and reflect your beauty. Amen.
Copyright Rev. Anthony D. Miles May 2005
