He's a hard worker like his daddy." "She looks just like her mom."
Moms and dads are usually pleased when a child shares
their positive traits. Our heavenly Father is that way too. As His
children mature spiritually, He wants them to become more like Him and
His Son Jesus Christ. But godly characteristics do not come naturally
to fallen human beings; believers inherit the Father's traits through
the Holy Spirit.
When a person is saved, he or she is born into a new
family, in which God is the Father and other Christians are brothers
and sisters. At that time, the new believer receives some of the
inheritance promised in the Scriptures--eternal security, the
indwelling presence of God's Spirit, and freedom from sin's power.
Residing within us, the Holy Spirit is our everpresent Advisor and
Comforter. Through His guidance, our character, conversation, and
conduct are reshaped to look like Jesus'.
The way that we grow in Christlikeness is by submission
to the work of the Holy Spirit. Subjecting our body, mind, emotions,
and will to the Lord suppresses self-determination and allows Christ's
life to be expressed instead. Selfishness is then replaced by His
gentle yet firm love. Though we still have our body and mind, we are
each a new person.
The transformation that takes place in our inner spirit
is reflected on the outside. As we take on more godly traits, people
around us will become more aware of our "family resemblance" to the
Lord. We are called to surrender ourselves to the process, since
Christlikeness is God's goal for our life.
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