Romans 12: 1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
On the occasion of the move from our last neighborhood, a very special group of women blessed me with a farewell tea. These precious friends had all been a part of dozens of Bible studies that I coordinated in our housing development, some of which I led, during the eighteen years we lived there. As I sat listening to the words of encouragement and affirmation poured out in my honor, I said to myself, “What a humbling experience – it’s as if I am witnessing my own memorial service.” My dear friends’ kind words gave me a lot to think about, to praise God for, and a lot to live up to!
If your church family, work colleagues, neighbors, schoolmates, or fellow club members, your family, and extended families were asked to describe you, what would they say? Would they say you are a person one can trust, who is steady, reliable, fair, and just? Would they say you are a person of good character? What is good character and why is it important? Let’s go a step further—are you a person of godly character?
Our character – what is it?
Character is defined in the dictionary as “the combination of emotional, intellectual, and moral qualities that distinguish an individual.” Character is something that is intrinsically within a person—no matter their age or gender, race, religion, or level of education.
Our character – what determines it?
John Wooden, the famous Basketball coach and Hall of Famer who guided UCLA to a record 10 national championships, is quoted as saying this: “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching,” as well as this, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
I love this one from Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby): “The best index to a person’s character is how he treats people who can’t do him any good, and how he treats people who can’t fight back.” The best source for developing a person’s godly character is from Scripture: 1 Samuel: 16:7: “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Our godly character – how does it influence the decisions we make?
How we go about making decisions is often based on a desire to get what we want in life, to advance, or achieve. We may have a tendency to act a certain way and do certain things in order to please people, to gain approval and acceptance. These reasons cause us to react and respond based on our circumstances and there may be times when we find ourselves justifying our wrong actions. Our public face may differ totally from our private face. If our character is grounded on the foundation of Jesus Christ, our character in decision-making will be influenced by our knowledge of what is true and honorable.
Our godly character – how does it indicate what and in Whom we believe?
Our faith in God and His son, Jesus, and the beliefs we hold that are rooted in the Bible speak of the character of God and the commands in Scripture. How can we gain godly character? The following list speaks of the character of God and, in turn, our godly character demonstrated by the transformation that takes place in us by the renewing of our mind, as spoken of in today’s scripture verse:
• God is faithful; I will always fulfill commitments.
• God is good; I will have a desire to be kind.
• God is holy; I will strive to always do the right, honest thing.
• God is just; I will seek to be fair in my dealings with others.
• God is love; I will love unconditionally and even extravagantly.
• God is One; I will pursue unity with others.
• God is pure; I will remain faithful in my relationships.
• God is Truth; I will stand up for what I believe.
• God is wise; I will be discerning in words and in deed.
With God as our standard for who we are and what we do, we should live in accordance with His will for us: “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Living up to the tributes at my “memorial service” caused me to ask myself these questions back then and even today: Am I loving? Am I honest? Am I kind? Am I welcoming? Am I merciful and understanding? Do I support and serve others in practical ways? Am I nourishing and feeding those around me? Do I care more about what God sees than what others see? These are the true tests of godly character. This is the test of a true Christ-follower. Oh, that I would pass that test!
Father in heaven, please instill in us godly character that pleases You and serves to be a powerful witness to others of the power of the Holy Spirit to transform hearts. We pray in Your name. Amen.
~ painting by Nathan Greene
