CHARACTER
Does having godly character really affect anyone else but me?
God's Response:
When the time came, we set sail for Italy. Paul and several other prisoners were placed in the custody of a Roman officer named Julius, a captain of the Imperial Regiment... The next day when we docked at Sidon, Julius was very kind to Paul and let him go ashore to visit with friends so they could provide for his needs.
Acts 27:1; 27:3
The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn't swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn't let them carry out their plan.
Acts 27:42-43
Our Takeaway:
Julius, a hardened Roman army officer, was assigned to guard Paul. Obviously he had to remain close to his prisoner at all times. Through this contact, Julius developed respect for Paul. He gave Paul a certain amount of freedom (see Acts 27:3) and later spared his life (see Acts 27:43).
How does your character look, up close and personal? Is it the kind of character that inspires trust in others?
God's Promise:
Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep with your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.
Proverbs 3:3-4
Big T's Thought To Ponder:
Absolutely, having the character of God affects everyone around us, it's contagious! It's one of the many ways God has planned to glorify Himself through us.
Consider a few of God's most obvious character traits - Holy, Righteous, Omniscient, Omnipotent, Merciful, Patient, Kind, Faithful, Peaceful, Gentle, Approachable, Creative, Forgiving, Honest, Trusting, Compassionate, Bold, Dependable, Diligent, Generous, Eternal, Supernatural, Wise, Tolerant, Perfect, and Loving-Loving-Loving! (Make you're own list, it's fun!)
We could literally speak about the Divine character of God endlessly... The thing that just blows my mind, is that we were all created in the likeness of Christ Jesus (Genesis 1:27). Once we have a change of mind and make the decision to believe and trust in Jesus Christ, His Glorious work can begin in us and through us.
We are indwelt by God who takes up residency in us (Galatians 2:20); then we are made a new creation where the old self dies and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17) and He slowly transforms our hearts (Ephesians 4:23-24). He begins to reveal the new man He originally created us to be by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2), by giving us revelation to His truth through exposing the lies of satin and the fallen world.
His refining and pruning process in our lives can bring challenges, pain, hardship and suffering (Corinthians 11:22-32) but it is always temporary and always yields goodness and growth in our reliance on Him. We always need to allow His rays of light to shine bright in what feels like the darkest moments in life - somebody will be watching you and your reaction to lifes most difficult moments - we need to be His good and faithful ambassadors!
God makes us new and acceptable from the inside out (Romans 6:1-11), allowing us to be a beacon of His light to the darkened world around us. He makes us righteous in Christ likeness; our true character is restored and our neighbors begin to take notice as they begin to see God's transformation in us - the conformed spirit, transformed heart and renewed mind - new men striped of the world and its false belief system and made new for His Kingdom through His Truth and Agape Love.
"Fore we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - The world is always watching us, let His light be bright in your every day!
