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Written by Sally Bair
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Tuesday, 12 January 2010 |
Several small herds of deer come into my yard for their daily ration of corn. One foursome includes two small deer that I call The Twins. On close observation, however, I noticed one has a distinctly different marking on its face. If they’re twins, they aren’t identical.
My own identical twin and I are different in some respects, but have several identical traits. Our voices sound the same, our mannerisms are alike, even our manner of speech. We both have crooked mouths and the same physical weaknesses. In our earlier years, we hardly could distinguish ourselves apart when looking into a mirror. We didn’t have to try imitating each other; it came naturally.
When we reached our teen years, however, we grew tired of wearing the same style and color of clothes. We rebelled, wanting rather to be more like our friends. And as we matured, our interests differed too. My twin sister likes to paint pictures; I would rather write them. Even our lifestyles and outlooks eventually changed. We’re vastly different now, in many respects.
Twins often draw a crowd, especially when they’re dressed alike. The magnetic pull may be that people feel a need to be just like someone else—someone prettier, smarter, or more gifted or successful. We see this in the clothing styles and in the “toys” we buy for ourselves and our children. The “twin” can count on being accepted. The one who would rather be different, however, is often ridiculed or shunned and thought to be an oddball.
The temptation to look or act like someone else—or to want our children to be more like someone else—is so subtle that sometimes we don’t realize it. But God would rather have us imitate Him than others. He created us in His likeness, not in the likeness of anyone else. Even Paul says, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) That includes the most identical, identical twin, be it human or animal.
The only way to imitate God is to spend time with Him. Like a child who trails behind a parent all day long, learning how to imitate his or her actions and words, we too must remain close to God—through daily and prolonged fellowship with Him in His Word and in prayer.
Lord, give us a childlike desire to imitate You, for we know that You are loving, compassionate, and righteous. Teach us through Your Word how to replicate Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
www.sallybair.com
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