For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ.

Have you ever been told you look just like your mom or dad? Maybe you’ve started to notice that as you get older, you’re starting to act more like them, too! It’s pretty wild how much we can resemble our parents, even in the smallest ways. When you look at a young child, it’s often easy to spot which parent they take after—whether it’s their eyes, their smile, or their personality. Sometimes, the resemblance is so obvious that it’s like looking at a mini version of one of them. Other times, though, it’s not so clear. And for some of us, hearing these comments can feel like a compliment, while for others, it’s a little unsettling.

It’s fascinating how much of our parents we carry with us, both physically and in how we act. But there’s one person who didn’t just resemble God—He was God, living in human form. Jesus, though born to Mary, was fully God and fully man. It’s mind-blowing when you think about it.  Everything that is true of God was fully shown through Jesus.

When Jesus walked the earth, He wasn’t just showing part of God’s nature. Every word He spoke, every miracle He performed, and every moment He shared with others was a perfect reflection of God’s heart and power. Jesus’ life was the ultimate example of God’s love, grace, and truth all wrapped up in one person. But what does that mean for us today?

As followers of Jesus, we’re called to display the fullness of God to the world around us, too. But let’s be honest—on our own, we can’t do it. We’re all broken and imperfect, and like Paul says in Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We don’t naturally reflect God’s nature. But here’s the good news: when we choose to follow Jesus and open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, He begins to transform us from the inside out. It’s not because we’ve suddenly “got it all together,” but because God’s power at work in us helps us live in a way that reflects His love and truth.

The transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process. And let’s be real—it’s not always easy. We don’t naturally live out God’s fullness. But as we grow in our relationship with Jesus and get to know Him more, we start to look more like Him in the way we live. When we love others the way Jesus did, when we choose forgiveness over bitterness, when we serve others even when it’s hard, and when we show grace instead of anger—we are displaying the fullness of God to the world around us.

Living like this often looks pretty different from what the world expects. In a culture that often values power, status, and self-interest, we’re called to live with humility, kindness, and love. But here’s the thing: the way we live can set us apart in a good way. Our actions will often raise questions because they don’t always match what people are used to seeing. And when that happens, we need to be ready to explain why we’re different. Peter writes, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Pet 3:15) We’re not just trying to be “good people;” we’re reflecting the love of God because of all He’s done for us.

Father God,

It’s hard for us to fully wrap our minds around the fact that Jesus was the complete fullness of You, God, living among us. Thank You for revealing Yourself through Him. We’re grateful for how Jesus showed us who You are.

Help us, God, to reflect Your fullness in our own lives. We know we can’t do it on our own, but through Your Holy Spirit, You can transform us to look more like Jesus every day. Even when it’s tough, give us the strength to love others, forgive, serve, and show grace. Help us to be ready to share with others why we live the way we do, and may it always point them to You.

We give You all the glory.

Amen.