Profound Reminders from Mini-Me

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Every now and again I’m struck by how much our boys resemble mini versions of Marisa and me. Marisa and I have come across pictures from our childhoods where Marisa could easily be mistaken for Grayson and where I could easily be mistaken for Emmaus (that is, were it not for the awesome 80s attire we’re rocking in those shots that gives us away). Not only do they resemble us in appearance but they likewise have similar personalities, with Grayson being more of an extrovert like his mommy and Emmaus definitely being an introvert like his daddy. (I should note that there are ways in which Marisa and I are reflected in the opposite boy as well, but these comparisons seem to be the most prominent.) It’s amazing to think how our boys are truly created in our image and likeness.

As I prepared for a sermon this past Sunday I was drawn back to Genesis 1:26 wherein God says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” It struck me afresh how incredible it is that we bear the image and likeness of God, just as our boys bear Marisa’s and my image and likeness. This got me wondering if, just as loved ones may look at our boys and comment on how they resemble us as children, do people likewise look at me and feel that I resemble my heavenly Father? Obviously my hope is that they do, and yet I know that there have been moments in my life where that has not been the case.

As I reflected further on this thought I realized that just as my boys’ behavior reflects on me as a parent, so too does my behavior as a Christian reflect my heavenly Father. The weight of that reflection caused me to recognize that the way I live as a Christian is a direct reflection on how others will view God. That’s a sobering thought, indeed. For those of us who claim the name of Jesus, we have been given the responsibility to live and love in such a way that it reflects the One in whose image and likeness we are created. And that’s a responsibility that should not be taken lightly.

All of this served as a profound reminder that my boys continue to teach me so much about God. (Clearly Jesus was on to something when He spoke about looking to children as our guides when it comes to inheriting the kingdom of heaven.) As I look at these little faces which I so deeply cherish, I give thanks to God that He’s given Marisa and me these two as our guides on this journey through life. And the same is true of the children in your life!

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Published by Rev in Real Life

My ideal description of myself would be that I'm a follower of Jesus, a devoted husband, a loving father, a loyal friend, and a passionate pastor. While I trust all those are true of me, the reality is that I've also gotta claim the descriptor of a broken sinner. Although I wish I could part ways with that title, the fact remains that as a human being I'm stuck with it (and so are you). But here's the good news: while that may describe us, it by no means defines us because of God's grace. So I guess the best way I can put it is that I'm a prime example of someone who, although far from perfect, is daily trying to believe that I'm beloved by God and to love others in response. My goal with this blog is to be real. Too often pastors have a hard time connecting with people because we don't seem relatable (sometimes justified, sometimes not). I'd have to say that one of the greatest things I can be told as a pastor is that I'm "real", which simply means that others can relate to me. This isn't always the case for pastors given that we've historically been granted the title "reverend", which means worthy of reverence (honor or respect). Now while I absolutely believe that being a pastor is a high calling and that pastors should seek to be godly, what I want is to be regarded as "real" because that's what will truly open the door for me to be able to share about Jesus. I'm using the handle "Rev in Real Life" because I intend to speak to matters of faith in real life. I promise to do my part to be authentic, and I welcome your authentic responses in return. This whole authentic thing is so important to me because I believe that the only way for Jesus to take root in hearts is when we're real about our brokenness and recognize that He's our only Way to healing and wholeness. My hope is that my words resonate and point you to God's amazing grace. As you can see from the pic, I have a beautiful wife, Marisa, and three amazing little kids, Emmaus, Grayson and Aubrey. We currently live in Washington state.

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