Read Luke 15:11-32. Have you ever changed your appearance to look like someone you admire? I’m not sure I ever had a specific person in mind, but I look back to photos of when I was a teenager and had hair, and my hairstyle certainly resembles some of the popstars of the time!
When you read the story of the Lost Son, who do you identify with? Maybe you’re the lost son or daughter, returning to God after an absence from him? Maybe, if you’re honest, you can see some of yourself in the reaction of the older son – harbouring resentment against the lost son because the father chooses to show him grace.
As we begin 2022, I am sure that God wants us all to identify with the father rather than the two sons. As followers of Jesus, we are each on a journey to become more like him – growing his heart, his mind and his other-centredness in our lives each day.
That’s exactly what the father shows. He continues to show love and compassion to his lost son, scanning the horizon, praying, and hoping for his return.
We are called to resemble this father of love, compassion, and grace by allowing the Holy Spirit to make us more like the loving, compassionate and gracious Son.
Will you resolve to look more like Jesus in 2022? As each of us opens to more of his Holy Spirit’s power in our lives this year then we will grow to greater Christian maturity and become who God wants us to be.
THINK IT OVER
Think about the following:
•Do your New Year’s resolutions reflect a desire to become more like Jesus in 2022?
