You know how the old saying goes when making comparisons “Apples to Apples, Oranges to Oranges”. I’m sure I have used it before some where in my teachings so it should come as no surprise to you that I will be using it again this morning.
Last week I heard a very good teaching on the character of God. I have been mulling it over all week. I keep going back to it because it isn’t what some prophet or Bible character is saying about God, it’s what God is saying about Himself.
Moses wanted to see God. God had been giving him messages of provision for the Israelite people and Moses had seen the burning bush, all the plagues and the Red Sea part. He had seen the cloud covering by day and the fire covering each night but he hadn’t seen God.
“Then the Lord came down to him in a cloud, stood there with Moses, and spoke his own name. 6 That is, the Lord passed in front of Moses and said, “Yahweh, the Lord, is a kind and merciful God. He is slow to become angry. He is full of great love. He can be trusted. 7 He shows his faithful love to thousands of people. He forgives people for the wrong things they do, but he does not forget to punish guilty people…” Exodus 34:5-7 ERV
Look at what God says about Himself. I am merciful, kind, gracious, good tempered, loving, trustworthy, faithful, forgiving and just! Sounds very similar to the Apostle Paul’s description of what Love is.
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 5 Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. 6 Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. 7 Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. 8 Love will never end…” I Corinthians 13:4-8 ERV
These are love’s characteristics and since God is love then these are His characteristics too. Love is patient, kind, unselfish, good tempered, forgiving, loyal, trustworthy, hopeful, committed and eternal.
As I was studying these verses together I realized that these are also the characteristics that the Holy Spirit brings out in our lives, the fruit of the Spirit. That was the focus of yesterday’s blog and it also ties in with the teaching on our spiritual DNA that I wrote about a week ago. Because we are children of the Father, his DNA shapes our lives. God’s word always dove-tails together giving us a true perspective of His character.
| God’s Character | Love’s Character | Fruit of the Spirit |
| Faithful | Hopeful | Faithful |
| Forgiving | Supportive | Gentle |
| Good | Faithful | Good |
| Gracious | Forgiving | Joy |
| Loving | Truthful | Kind |
| Merciful | Not Rude | Love |
| Patient | Patient | Patient |
| Trustworthy | Selfless | Peaceful |
| Kind | ||
| Not Boastful | ||
| Good Tempered |
God wants His character to overflow in our lives so that we look and act like Him. The Father is pleased when people look at us and say “Oh they must be a Christian, they look and act just like their Father”.
“Whatever you say or do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus. Give thanks to God the Father through the Lord Jesus.” Colossians 3: 17 NLV
May our lives be an “apples to apples” comparison with Father as we grow in our daily walk with Him.