You won’t know who you are, unless you know who your dad is.

Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat…the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

I have been a son for 53 years, and a father for 18. As it happens, of my four sons, one of them is more like me than the others, both in appearance and in manner. He probably knows what I think better than the others too, although I can’t be too certain that he shares my thoughts, I think on many things he is at least aware of them.
Looking in one direction towards my father, and then the other way, towards my sons, I have been wondering to what extent a man can be like his father, whether intentionally or not. Since my dad lives 12,000 miles away from me, and we don’t talk nor write that often, I am no doubt less like him than I could be.

A good son wishes to honour his father, and one of the many ways he might do this is by knowing his father’s will, and doing it. Of course, if it were my father’s will that I drive him to town tomorrow, I can’t realistically do that, because we live in different countries. But of his will which I know can be done, no doubt I should do it. For instance, I imagine that he would want me to look after my mother when he’s no longer around to do it. How that would be best achieved will depend on circumstances at the time.

But the father I most want to be like is my heavenly father. Some people, Jesus says, have the devil as their father (see Matthew 13:37 & John 8:44), but it needn’t be so. After all, we are taught we can be born again and have a Father in Heaven.
And to be born again, we need to have God’s Spirit.

If my sons have something of my spirit in them, they will - to some extent - be like me. Likewise, if we all have God’s Spirit in us, and in increasing amount, then we will become more like our father in heaven. The more that happens, the more the world will be like the Garden of Eden, and less like a jungle.

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

John 14:23-27

In short, unless a man knows who his dad is, he won’t know who he is.

This is true for earthly sons, and it’s true regarding our heavenly Father as well.
Unless we know who our dad is, we won't know who we are.
Therefore, we need our Father’s Spirit, to know him better, and to become more like him.

And to get the Spirit, all we need do is ask Him.

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

 Luke 11:13

Let me say it differently, you will know who you are, when you know who your dad is.

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