I’ve mentioned it before, but I wasn’t a good student. I did everything but study. I drove Intercape buses, I managed restaurants, and I even had my own irrigation business. Between all those activities, there was little time, or desire, for academics.

My daughters, on the other hand, were the opposite. They probably take after their mother. From their school days, they studied without prompting and never arrived unprepared for class. They truly excelled, effortlessly bringing home academic awards.

And then came our son. Again, the opposite. This time from the girls. I suspect he believed that studying could give you some kind of disease. That’s why he seldomly studied. At the end of the year, most of his workbooks looked as new as they did on day one.

Even at university, he was like an undercover student. Not us, not the lecturers, and I don’t think he even knew he was doing a degree course!

But I couldn’t say anything, because you see, he’s a chip off the old block. I was also a bit scared of books. I guess it was by God’s grace that I did get my degrees.

The same with my son. When we told our domestic helper that he had passed, she said: “But I never saw him read!” Yes, as they say: like father, like son.

But as he gets older, I notice that he does more and more things just like I do. He stops when he sees someone in need. He’s an entrepreneur just like me. The other day I was watching him at a braai, and I saw quite a lot of myself in him.

I realise that if one day I’m no longer here, and people wonder what kind of person I was, they only need to look at my children. They would then get a good idea of who I was.

Then it hit me: that’s exactly how it is with Jesus. He came to show us who God is. Jesus’ work here on earth wasn’t just to die in our place for our sins. He also came so that we could come to know God through Him.

²⁰And we know that the Son of God came so we could recognize and understand the truth of God—what a gift!—and we are living in the Truth itself, in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Just as Jesus was focused on people and loved to help people in need, so is God. Just as Jesus was not afraid to perform miracles to lighten someone’s burden, so is God. And yes, just as Jesus stood up for what is right, God also stands only for what is right in the world.

We know Jesus, therefore we know God. Jesus made us part of God’s family, and He is now our Father. Jesus made it possible for us to live forever, and we do not have to fear the road to hell.

Let us now live as God’s children, like our Brother Jesus. Let us do as He does, and everywhere we go, tell the good news and do good, especially to people in need.

Let’s strive to be like Him, share the good news and do good everywhere we go, especially for those in need.

Scripture
1 John 5:14-21

Reflection
How well do you know Jesus?
How well do you know God?
Are you living like your Brother lived here on earth?

Prayer
Jesus, thank you that I know God. Thank you that I’m part of the family. Thank you for the wonderful assurance of eternal life. Amen.