Family Resemblances

My brow is sweating.

This week of study has hit me close to home in more ways than one. The last person on earth I ever thought I would have anything in common with is Haman! I am cringing even now at the ways, even from the distances of time, circumstances and extremes, that my behaviors, thoughts or actions have shown themselves to be even remotely reminiscent of him. Just when I thought I was gaining some footing in the areas (notice the "s") of insecurity, along God brings this week of study to unwrap yet another tissue-thin layer of junk that needs to be stripped from me in order to let the purpose of the Lord fill that spot. If only that unwrapping didn't have to begin with a foot in my mouth, an inward eruption with an outward showing, or the public flying of my very own personal freak flag.


What would God's kingdom gain from a people who were only humiliated? What would be the reward of our existence if we were only repentant and never repaired? Discontent with selfishness and weary of ego, we finally become willing to lose ourselves to something greater. In doing so, we find Christ as we've never known Him and, there, pooled in the reflection of His eyes, startle to discover that a part of ourselves resembles Him. (Workbook, page 127)

Are you humiliated? God is the lifter of your head. Are you repentant but unrepaired? God is your healer and your restorer. When you look in the mirror, what do you see? I wonder if you know, if you really know, that when your Heavenly Father looks at you, He sees Jesus. You may tug at your eyes, check your profile from the side, or study the curve of your mouth searching for His mark, but once you step back, kneel down and look up instead of out, you will see you do have His walk, His voice, His power. It's there in your veins pulsing through in a never ending cycle of readiness ... just waiting to be tapped.

Just go ahead and look. I dare you to be startled.

P.S. I really wanted to title this "Hey, man, I'm like Haman!" but thought twice.