Developing a Christ-like character
In Matthew 5:4, Jesus Christ described Christians as “light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.” Every true Christian is by compulsion supposed to exhibit a Christ-like character. By God’s standard, it should be easy to distinguish Christians from unbelievers. Unfortunately, this is not so today because many Christians have chosen to be hearers and not doers of the word of God. According to the record in James 1:22, Christians are supposed to “be doers of the word and not hearers only.”
It is necessary to note here that in most cases, God’s blessings are tied to our level of faith in His infinite abilities. Faith can be described as the currency with which Christians buy whatever they want from God’s store. It is recorded in Hebrews 11:6 that, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Furthermore, Romans 10:17 gives a deep insight into the true source of faith-building. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of God.”
The word of God is indeed the ultimate source of the good life we all seek through fasting, prayers, and other religious rites. According to Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” It explains the fact that the word of God is capable of determining life and death. More than that, the word of God is filled with wisdom to help guide us right. This fact is further confirmed in Psalms 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Jesus Christ is our model. As a result, every Christian is expected to emulate His lifestyle. It is therefore necessary to point out that the only way man can achieve fulfillment in life is to develop a Christ-like character. Any profit, pleasure, or achievements made outside God’s guiding principles will lead to loss and grief.
In order to be able to develop a Christ-like character, one must first confess and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of mankind. It is this confession that will secure us God’s forgiveness, which will entitle us to His abundant grace and favour.
Let us quickly consider the seven major traits of Jesus Christ every Christian is supposed to copy.
- Love. Just as recorded in Matthew 22:37-38, Love is the first and greatest commandment. Every true Christian must therefore allow the spirit of love to lead him or her. Without love, the essence of Christianity will be defeated. God loved us and sent Jesus to die for our sins. We must at every time do well to sacrifice our very best in order to save, help, or make others happy.
- Humility. God does not like the proud. In most instances, proud people are usually tempted not to seek God’s opinion but instead rely on their human wisdom or strength. Most wealthy act in manners that suggest they do not need God’s direction. According to Psalms 10:4, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” We all know that people who do not respect God can afford to do anything. This is why democracy has not been able to do much for the masses. Proverbs 28:12 supports this opinion. In the midst of all these, Christians need the grace of God to survive. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Bible says, “And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee.” Compare this to James 4:6, where it is stated that, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” For us to enjoy God’s grace, we must lead a life of humility.
- Compassion. We must learn how to show sympathy for those in need and pain. Christ did much of this. Without Christians, communal and political life should be incomplete. That was why Jesus described Christians as salt of the world (Matthew 5:13).
- Patience. Christians must learn to be patient even when faced with trails and temptations. We must also be patient with those that hate us, accuse us wrongly, or seek our hurt. Patience also requires us to be careful, talk less, and shun anger. See James 1:19. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Patient people hardly get into trouble because they count every of their words.
- Prayerfulness. It is often said that prayer is the key to God’s heart. Indeed, prayer is one very important way Christians communicate with God. When we pray, it demonstrates the fact that we recognize God’s supremacy and authority over us.
- Faith. Every Christian must have the Abraham kind of faith in order to win God’s heart. This is the only way we can please God. Hebrew 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Most of us have found it very difficult to please God owing to our wavering faith. This is responsible for our many unanswered prayers.
- Courage. Because of the trials, temptations, and difficulties many people face in life, Christians need high amount of courage to keep their faith alive by confronting Satan and its agents.
