Torch, Spring 2001

make the remark, “That’s my boy!” or “That’s my girl!” At those times, the family resemblance becomes a special source of pride and pleasure for the parent. In the same way, we as God’s children can make a conscious choice each day to reflect clearly the family resemblance by our conduct and our words. By God’s grace we can be growing toward that goal of perfection, the maturity and completeness of reflecting the Father’s likeness in our lives. develop the maturity to readily exercise mercy towards others, having compassion on those around us who are in need, and taking steps to meet both the immediate and eternal needs they might have, rather than turning away in apathy or rejection. How’s Your Family Resemblance? Sometimes, upon seeing his or her child achieve some goal or display some positive quality, a parent will in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” How can we expect to reconcile others to God if we are not willing to be reconciled to one another? Relationship Implies C o m p a s s i o n As Jesus addresses His disciples and the crowds in the Sermon on the Mount, He summarizes in one phrase the plan God has for His family: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). Sounds like a tall order! According to Vine’s Dictionary, the word “perfect” as it describes God refers to His goodness without reference to development or maturity; but as it describes people, it implies people who are fully grown, mature, or complete. God’s desire for His children is that they would mature to become more like Him. Interestingly, that same verse in Luke 6:36 is expressed as “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” The idea of being merciful involves feeling pity towards someone in distress and acting on that person’s behalf, taking steps to remedy that distress— obviously, that is exactly what God did for us in sending His Son to die for us. The challenge for us is to 6 TORCH / Spring 2001 D r. Barbara Loach, professor of Spanish, has been at Cedarville University since 1978. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Cedarville, her master’s degrees at Bowling Green State University and Wright State University, and her doctorate at The Ohio State University. When she’s not teaching about Hispanic literature and culture, she enjoys writing, working on projects around the house, gardening, and traveling. She is also active in her church, where she teaches the toddlers’ Sunday school class, and in local community outreach programs which teach English to immigrants. T