It is said that identical twins have the same genetic makeup. Although the genetic material or DNA sequence is the same, many differences still occur. This genetic makeup is called your genotype.
A phenotype is a similar word used to describe the expression of that genetic sequence. The interesting thing about the expression of genes is the environment the genetic material is surrounded by determines how the genotype is expressed. Therefore, although identical twins have the exact same genes (genotype) the way they express those genes (phenotype) can be drastically different.
In other words, you can have two identical children that develop into two totally different people based on the environment you set them in. In fact, even with many clones of the same genes you can still have 100’s of different expressions based on 100’s of different unique environments.
Allow me to state my case: what is true regarding genetic identity is also true concerning spiritual identity.
Laws of Science, Laws of Scripture
Spiritually speaking, we all have the same genotype. We are all commanded to love God and love people (Luke 10:27). We are all commanded to work as if working for the Lord and not simply for man (Colossians 3:23). We all read the same Bible and worship the same God.
Even though we all share the same spiritual genome, we all express these commands with a different spiritual phenotype. For example, how you express your love for God is most certainly as unique as your DNA structure. Even if you are an identical twin, the spiritual environment you choose each and every day makes you just as unique as an apple is unique to an orange.
Spiritually, as well as physically, no one is quite like you. No one can worship God quite like you. Maybe most importantly, no one can worship God for you. You and you alone are responsible for your own relationship with Christ.
Expressing Scripture
The old kings of Israel used to have to carry the sacred Scriptures around with them wherever they went. This was not simply a Bible you found in a bookstore. This Bible was handwritten by the very king who carried it (Deuteronomy 17:18-20)!
I often think that the bridge between reading Scripture and doing Scripture is crossed when we put God’s commands in our own words. We are not changing Scripture, we are simply comprehending Scripture in our own language.
When I re-write a verse in my own words I sometimes write my initials next to it as if to say “the EVR version.”
It’s not official, but when I can understand God’s words using my own, it takes away some of the mystery and spells out what I have to do to accomplish His will for my life.
Let me ask you this: what does your Bible translation say?
Also, is the life you’re currently living an accurate reflection of the Bible you read?
Finally, what do you do to bridge the gap between knowing God’s word and doing God’s word?
Feel free to comment or send me an email.
Until next time, may God bless you and find you faithful, fruitful, and forgiven!
