This is a guest blog by Gail.
Understanding God’s character is essential to our faith. He is the cornerstone of all it is built upon. He created us to be with Him. He is the center of all things. He wove this universe for us to live in and enjoy. We should be in awe at the power and skill of the designer. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, for him.” Colossians 1:16. God, who is pure, holy, and loving, wants us to abide with Him. As part of our spiritual journey, we must seek a deeper understanding of God’s nature. In doing so, we discover who we are supposed to become because we were made in the image of God.
The Bible is our guide into the heart of God and His intention for humanity. It all starts in Genesis 1:26-27 “And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the flesh of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, man and female created he them.”
God is totally committed to His relationship with us. The Bible contains story after story about how man has drifted from God and sinned. Then God, in His infinite mercy, warns, disciplines, and forgives if man confesses and repents. He wants what is best for us. We must allow His marvelous character to transform us. We find our purpose in imitating Him.
God is love. “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16. Love is not just something God does; it is who He is. God demonstrated His love through Jesus's life, death, and resurrection. It is this love that enables us to love others. “We love him because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. How do we love? “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2. Only by loving Him can we love others.
God is holy. God’s holiness sets Him apart from all else. Understanding God’s holiness increases our self-worth. Knowing we have been chosen by a holy God to be His holy people. “There is none as holy as the Lord, for there is none beside Thee, neither is there any rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2 and “But as he which hath called you is holy ... so be ye holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15a-16. How do we become holy? How do we surrender our desires and live for God? We must pray for God to guide us on our path. Resist temptation, follow scripture, and be intolerant of sin without hating the sinner. Resist sin. “For I am the Lord your God; ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy…” Leviticus 11:44a.
God is just. God’s fairness and righteousness are seen throughout the Bible. God’s justice assures us He will always ‘set things right’. “He loveth righteousness and judgment; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” Psalm 33:5. Are we just and righteous? The word righteous means ‘upright, good, or God-fearing.’ We grow when we walk in integrity, seek holiness, and use our knowledge of the Word of God to live our lives. “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother.” Zechariah 7:9.
God is merciful. God’s mercy and grace are undeserved gifts that He bestows on us. “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy.” Micah 7:18 and “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.” Ephesians 2:4. His mercies are new every morning. The Bible also says that He casts our sins away as far as the East is from the West. He remembers them no more. Are we merciful? Are we looking to help people more profoundly? Merciful people do not judge or gossip, no matter what the circumstances. Merciful people are quick to forgive and do not hold a grudge. “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all; and his tender mercies are all over his works.” Psalm 145:8-9.
God is good. God’s goodness means He will always work for our ultimate benefit, even when we cannot see it. “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Exodus 34:6. Can we become good? Only God can pull us out of darkness and lead us to the light. Can we let go of our hold on this life more and let more of God into our hearts?
God is trustworthy and never changes. If we get to know who God is, we do not need to be afraid that He will be different tomorrow. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8. God always keeps His promises. Do we keep our promises? Practice acting consistently with your values and principles, even when no one is watching. Be honest and transparent. Admit faults and learn from them. Be reliable. Don’t take commitments lightly.
God is compassionate and gracious. The word compassion means more than just being kind to someone. It goes deeper. It means “suffer with”. He knows every hardship and struggle we have. He understands the pain of loss and sees our hearts when we feel broken. “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.” Psalm 116:5 and “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” Psalm 103:8. These verses reassure us of His loving and forgiving nature. Are we compassionate? Do we care for others' needs like we would like others to care for us? Do we offer support, encouragement, and practical help to those in need? Do we provide hospitality, creating a sense of belonging and community? Compassion starts with small acts of kindness in daily interactions. Live generously. We are to become beacons of hope and love.
God is patient. When God’s people were disobedient time and time again, He patiently waited for their hearts to change. “yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. Yet many years did thou forbear them, and testify against them by thy spirit in thy prophets; yet would they not give ear; therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands. Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.” Nehemiah 9:29-31. Are we patient? Patience is the ability to persevere and face opposition or suffering without complaint or revenge. So, the more trials we face, the more opportunities we get to develop patience. “My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” James 1;2-3. Since patience (longsuffering) is a fruit of the Spirit, we must let Him work in us and follow the example that Christ has left us.
Knowing God’s character builds our faith and encourages us. “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed because his compassion fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23.
And finally, if the Bible has not clearly exposed God’s character, He sent His Son to us to be a living example of His grace and love. Because God is spirit, “God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24, getting to know God is more difficult than getting to know another man. God realized this, so He became man! “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Colossians 2:9. Growing in knowledge of who God is deepens our trust in Him. Our joy and contentment in Him increases. As a result, our fears and anxieties decrease because we know we are secure in Christ. When we trust in who God is, we will want to ‘talk’ to Him often in prayer and reflection. We will be drawn to get to know Him better. And the more we get to know God, the better we can understand how we need to grow and change. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12. It will be on that day that we will see Him clearly and understand.
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