Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 NKJV.

Godly Character by: J.Harkins

My friend Hector sent me a text message the other day.  That’s not unusual in itself.  Hector sends me a text every day. They are always scriptures and godly saying, and they always make me think. But this one was a little different! This one had a much greater impact on me, it said: The greatest testimony we can give is to live a Godly life.  This saying stayed in my mind all week long.  I pondered on it over and over, day in and day out.   ST Augustine said: Go and preach the gospel, and if necessary use words, In other words when people look at us it should be easy for them to see that we follow Christ.  Our Lord said that the entire world would know that we follow Him if we have love for one another (see John 13:34, 35 NKJV).
One of the definitions of character is: one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual.  Our Lord had many attributes about him that we as followers should mimic, or at least be trying to.
Some of which are:

• He was forgiving:  Our Lord forgave all who came to him of their sins, he also forgave those who caused him pain, but the greatest of all was when he forgave them when they nailed his body to the cross. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do Luke 23:34 NKJV. We should all ask ourselves where our forgiveness level stops! Are we forgiving just some things? Or are we forgiving all things as is required? “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matt 6:14,15 NKJV.
• He was full of compassion:  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matt 9:36 NKJV. Now I want each of us to look deep inside ourselves and ask the question: Do I have compassion for all that cross my path? Now for 99% of us the answer would be a clean cut NO! Not even myself, but it is a character trait that we all should strive to achieve.
• He was a servant:  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. John 13:5 NKJV. Here we have the answer to that age old question of WHY AM I HERE? We are here for one another, not for ourselves, when the deciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them our Lord had this to say: whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matt 20:26-28 NKJV. Are you being a servant?

There were many other attributes that our Lord has, he is meek, merciful, obedient, and most of all he is a loving person!  All these things are the fruit of the spirit of God. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:6 NKJV.  There is no if, ands, or buts about it, our Lord walked humbly before his God, and lived by every word that proceeded out of his mouth, even to the point of giving his own life. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Cor 5:17 NKJV. You see when we call on the Lord and ask him to be Lord in our lives it does not end here! It’s only the beginning! We must on a continuing basis strive to become better, Our actions and re-actions are a clear cut indication of what we believe. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29 NKJV.  We ask ourselves how shall we be conformed to the image of the son? I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 NKJV.  The word disciple and discipline mean the same thing; we must all bring our flesh into subjection to the word of God. Paul said in Romans: For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Romans 7:19 NKJV. Let us do just the opposite, Let us practice the good for we all know that practice makes perfect. Our lord said: If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13:17 NKJV.

What really matters is what happens in us, not to us. But what happens to us will determine what happens in us. (J. Harkins)