Looking Like My Father

A Five-Part Devotional Series on Holiness — Part 5
Pastor Calvin Cook

October 26, 2026

Scripture: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” — Romans 8:14–17, NIV

As we come to the final devotional in this series, we have considered our desire for God’s presence, a clean heart, His will, and His truth. Today, we bring those desires into the way we live as His children.

Recently, I ran into someone who knew my dad. It felt like a little celebration, since Dad has been gone for several years. I always love hearing stories about him.

Dad lived a rather simple, out-of-the-way life. He never sought the spotlight. He appreciated the fellowship of friends, a morning in the woods hunting, or time along the creek fishing. I admire those things, yet I often find myself so bogged down with responsibilities that I leave little room for the simple things that cost nothing.

Anyhow, this person said, “You are really starting to look like your dad.”

I chuckled because, honestly, I don’t see it. For one thing, I still have hair! Maybe not for long, but I don’t see much physical resemblance.

That conversation has stayed with me over the last few weeks. As today’s devotional brought me to Romans 8, I paused to ask: How much do I look like my heavenly Father?

Do I resemble Jesus? Do His teachings shape the way I respond to others? Do I love as Jesus loved? And here is a difficult one: Am I willing to share in His sufferings—to remain faithful when following Him becomes costly?

Does the way I live reflect the Father to whom I belong?

That gives me something to think about. I can speak about holiness, write about following Jesus, and encourage others to listen to the Holy Spirit. But what happens when the day becomes difficult? When someone disagrees with me, interrupts my plans, or needs more patience than I feel prepared to give?

Those ordinary moments reveal places where I still need God’s grace.

I truly desire to live a life that reflects Jesus. Yet sometimes my first response reveals how much I still want my own way. I may begin the morning in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to guide me, and then try to take control before the day has barely started.

Perhaps you understand that struggle, too.

Paul reminds us in Romans that those who are led by the Spirit are God’s children. He speaks of adoption, of calling upon God as “Abba, Father,” and of the Spirit assuring us that we belong to Him.

There is comfort in that belonging—in that relationship. Through Jesus Christ, we have been welcomed into God’s family. We can bring Him our struggles, receive His correction, and trust His love as He teaches us how to live.

Thinking back to my dad, I remember so many lessons he taught me: how to fish, how to hunt—although I never really learned the quiet part—how to grow a garden, how to work, and how to provide.

Yet I don’t always make time to practice what he taught me. Those lessons remain in my memory, but I want them to find expression in my life.

That brings me back to Jesus. How many of His teachings do I carry in my memory without allowing them to shape my daily living?

This is where holiness becomes personal again. Am I willing for the Holy Spirit to shape my responses? Will I allow Him to guide what I say, how I listen, and what I do when no one else is watching?

Sometimes His leading calls me to speak. Sometimes it calls me to be quiet long enough to understand. Sometimes it means admitting I was wrong and asking someone to forgive me.

And sometimes it means doing the good I already know to do: making the phone call, offering the visit, speaking encouragement, or showing the kindness I have been putting off.

I wonder how often I ask God to show me the next step while hesitating over the step He has already made clear.

As His children, we are learning to recognize His voice and respond with obedience. His grace enables us to grow. The Holy Spirit works within us so that the Father’s love becomes visible through our lives.

That love reaches the people closest to us. It shapes how we treat our families, how we work, how we serve our churches, and how we respond to someone whose life is very different from our own.

As this series comes to a close, I want to keep praying the desires we have considered:

Lord, help me seek Your presence. Create in me a clean heart. Teach me to desire Your will and receive Your truth. Lead me as Your child.

Today, will my choices help someone see the love of the Father to whom I belong?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for welcoming me as Your child through Jesus Christ. Help me trust Your love and follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit. Shape my words, attitudes, and choices so that they reflect You. Where I resist, make me willing. Where I have hurt others, help me seek forgiveness. Let Your holy love become visible in the ordinary moments of my life. Amen.