Clay in the Hands

Remember that question you would be asked as a child – “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

I remember being asked that question on numerous occasions.  It is just one of those things adults ask kids.  I honestly don’t remember having a set answer.  I am sure I would respond with “a fireman” or “a policeman.”  (I am fairly positive I never said, “a pastor.”)

But now as I am a bit older, I have had the blessing of hearing my sons respond to that question.   Every once in a while, when they were young, they would respond by saying that they wanted to be like their dad.  Talk about a proud moment in the life of a father!

Throughout our lives, there are people we come to respect.  In fact, it is not uncommon to have folks in our lives who impact us so dramatically that we want to be more like them.

Paul says, in Ephesians 5, that as children of God, we should seek to imitators of our Father. We should have such a respect and gratitude for God that our desire should be imitation.  So what do you want to be when you grow up?  Who do you want to resemble?

As imitators we may be the closest thing to God that people around us see today.

How closely does your imitation resemble the real thing?