What is one of the marks of a person of strong character?
Scriptures To Consider:
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27
Satan Attacks Job's Character: Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and satan also came among them. And the LORD said to satan, “From where do you come?” So satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the LORD said to satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Job 1:6-12
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:3-5
Colossians 3:12-17
Big T's Thoughts To Ponder:
I just love this tread of scripture the Holy Spirit put on my heart this morning, there is nothing greater than the truths and simple instructions of Chirst. Starting in the beginning...
In the beginning God created each of us in His perfect image and likeness! This is amazing and could be a devotional all by itself. He could have given us perfected character right then and there; and He did! Adam and Eve had perfected God given character right from the get-go! The Word doesn't just say that we were created in the image of God, but also in the likeness of God!
Just as it happened in the garden when satan came to kill, steal and destroy Eve's identity, righteous, purity and life itself in it's perfect form, through his tempting lies and deception, he also robbed her of her perfect Godly character. This is a prime illustration of John 10:10 and just how he tried to do the same in the life of Job. But through every trial and repeated attacks from satan Job never compromised his trust and faith in God, he held onto the God given character marks he had been blessed with by our Abba Father.
When we begin to believe and understand scriptures like 2 Corinthians 5:3-5 as truth, we realize it is about being reconciled to God and yet, even more than that, it points us to an amazing privilege we have inherited, yet carrying a great responsibility. Paul indicates that as the members of Christ's church, we are also ambassadors for Him. What an amazing thought!
Paul tells us that anyone who has come to Christ... who has made the decision to trust... anyone who has been baptized into faith in Christ, we are new creations in Jesus Christ and have been reconciled in Christ! While we still live here in the fallen world physically, spiritually we have been adopted in the His new world ruled by the Holy Spirit -Wow! Galatians 2:20 tells us that we have been crucified in Christ and that it is no longer us who live, but Christ who lives in us.
So we were created in His image and likeness as believers, He has taken up residency in us. He has called us His Children... His Workmanship... and His Ambassadors. If all this is true and we know that it is the very essence of truth, we should also know that are character of Christ is being perfected in us with each day of His Divine transforming process.
This brings us to Colossians 3:12-17 and the examples of the character marks we are called to be; Kind, Patient, Meek , Joyful, Peaceful, Merciful, Humble, Forgiving and the greatest character mark of al is loving. When we are obedient to the Holy Spirit and walk in oneness, we are now representatives and ambassadors of Christ and He can use us to fulfill His Will through the gift(s) He has blessed us.
God's Truths:
Paul says in v. 21, God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the
righteousness of God. So what is our big takeaway today?
- We were given reconciliation, freedom and complete victory over satan's lies...
- We have had the ministry of reconciliation committed to us...
- We have become the righteousness of God...
- We are ambassadors into this world of the most wonderful message ever delivered to mankind and He has entrusted us to share and carry in to all ends of the earth!
- We are created in the image and likeness of Christ and share similar character marks...
We are called to be His ambassadors, walk in the character you have been given and share His wonder and amazing news with the world!
