Abiding in Him - The Mirror

Posted by Peggy Hoefl on February 28th, 2011 in Blog, faith | 5 Comments

Who do we look like?

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

As a past director of a crisis pregnancy center for years, I always loved to ooh and aah over the new babies. Everyone wants to know … who does she/he look like? Let’s step in front of the mirror today.

Some time back, there was a song with these words “When I look into a mirror whose reflection do I see? Do I see the face of Jesus or is it still the same old me?”

Is it just the same old me? As children of God we should be looking like part of the family. Oswald Chambers states “The resounding evidence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life is the unmistakable family likeness to Jesus Christ and the freedom from everything which is not like Him!” Do we indeed have an unmistakable family resemblance?

When we received Christ, Holy Spirit came to dwell in us. We became part of the family. We should have the characteristics He has…Galatians 5:22 states “the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.”

Who do we look like? Does anything look familiar there?

Galatians 5:24 clearly outlines those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature. Romans 8:9 says, We are not controlled by the sinful nature but by the Spirit. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

We’re the kids of God!

Is that fog on the mirror? I can’t see His reflection- only my own.

Hebrews 12:14 makes it clear “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord…”

No one said becoming a holy Christian was easy did they? When we think we cannot do or be one more thing, the Father says “Oh, yes you can! Let’s work on this.” One more step toward looking like Jesus. There are times we’ll catch a glimmer… “There it is .. I saw some resemblance there but wait a minute, where did it go?”

How do we become part of the family portrait? The more time we spend hanging out with Jesus, the more we’ll start looking like Him. Walking in faith, reading the Word, being around godly people (not religious people, mind you), having church (not just going to a building), listening to and singing praise and worship music, being thankful, trusting, praying, building a relationship. Even nonfamily members want to spend time with “family folks” when they are real and transparent. Jesus always associated with nonfamily. He didn’t stay in the temple. He was out and about interacting with tax collectors, prostitutes, the lepers, the poor, and those filled with demons.

Satan will attempt to write in red lipstick across that mirror: UGLY. HATEFUL. UNWORTHY. And we will buy into it. Why? Because we’re always in the process of sanctification. We’re not perfect. What do we do when we blow it, when we start looking like someone else we don’t even recognize? STOP immediately, confess it, and get back to where you should be.

Do we really believe we can be holy? Look holy? Sound holy? Galatians 2:20 states, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Holy Spirit is powerful and will change things through us. People want to see Jesus and we really can show HIM to them.

When we start looking like Jesus, we have the authority to change the atmosphere when we come into a room. The grocery store should change when you walk in. Watch out you could be trampled as demons tremble and run out when we come on the scene. The presence of the Lord God Almighty has entered the building through you! Miracles should happen. People want to know “What have you got that I don’t?” “How can you love me?” Acts 19:15 is very clear that when we start looking, sounding, and loving like Jesus that even the demons shake when we make our appearance. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?

Who do you look like? I want my name in there: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, and Peggy I know, but who are you?”

Today, let’s start getting our names in there.

All scripture from NKJV of the Bible.