There’s an old saying that I first heard as a kid.

The saying is, &8220;the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.&8221;

I remembered that saying recently in a meeting.

There were about two dozen people who were going around the room introducing themselves in a circle.

When one young gentleman that I had never met before stood up to speak, I immediately recognized his mannerism and speech as being those of a long time associate.

I was floored at how much the young man was like my friend.

While the kid didn’t look much like my friend, his voice inflected the same way as my associate.

He laughed like my friend.

This kid used his hands the same way.

After the meeting I walked over to him and asked.

Not only did the young man know my friend, he was in fact his son.

That old saying is also true in a spiritual sense.

We are a reflection of our maker.

The good things we do are a manifestation of his being inside us.

It is God’s &8216;DNA,’ his essence, his nature inside us that that gives away our identity.

When people see our love, compassion, goodness, gentleness, self-control, faithfulness and grace they are seeing our heavenly father’s attributes leaking out.

They recognize Him in us.

The Bible puts it like this,

&8220;for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.&8221;

(1 Peter 1:23 NASB)

In other words, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Chris Frank serves as pastor at Southern Hill Christian Church in Alabaster. He can be reached by e-mail at mailto:seniorminister@southernhills.cc