In our somber moments, we sometimes wonder, “What does God look like? Is he a good and gentle God? Or is he more like the strict and disciplinarian type of God? What is the character of God?”
In the Garden of Eden, God revealed the complete aspects of his being, character, and personality. He created Adam and Eve from the ground, provided for all of their needs, and talked and walked with them.
In the Bible, God’s attributes show that he is our Creator, Provider, Protector, Great Shepherd, Righteous Judge, and Friend. But our good God is also the essence of uprightness. Before the creation of the Earth, universe, and life, God detested disobedience. He expelled Satan from the heavenly realms. He also became angry when our first parents disobeyed him, which resulted in their banishment from Paradise.
Contents
The Character Of God And Why It Matters
God Is Infinite
The Lord reigns forever and ever.
— Exodus 15:18
God is never-ending, with no beginning and no end. In the Bible, at the beginning of ancient Israel, he is called Yahweh[1], the most sacred name used by the Jews to call God.
God was created from nothing and is self-existent. He is not a God far away and unreachable to us at any time, anywhere. He will reign as our Lord forever and ever.
God Is Omnipotent
By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made, their starry hosts by the breath of his mouth.
— Psalm 33:6
God is all-powerful. His might and magnificence filled heaven and earth when he created all life forms out of nothing. In our weak and mundane lives, we are often helpless in our earthly pursuits and against the attacks of the enemy. When God is on our side, we can have access to his unlimited power and capabilities. Nothing is impossible with God.
Jeremiah 23:23–24 says, “‘Am I a God near at hand,’ says the Lord, ‘And not a God afar off? Can anyone hide in secret places, so I shall not see him?’ says the Lord. ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ says the Lord.”
God Is Omniscient
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.
— Psalm 147:5
God is the epitome of wisdom and knowledge. When we see the works of his creation around us and in us, we become mesmerized by his outstanding capabilities and wonders. He also knows our past, present, and future.
Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, knows what is best for our lives. Our faith and obedience to the Lord result in a fruitful, righteous, and joyful state of life.
God Is Omnipresent
Where can I go with your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
— Psalm 139:7–8
As our magnificent God, he is present in all places at all times. Our five senses cannot fathom this unimaginable trait of God in our daily lives. He knows when we become willfully disobedient and sinful. We cannot run away from God, hide from him, or evade his wrath.
God Is All-Loving
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
— 1 John 4:7–8
The very reason for our existence is God’s abounding love. Like a father to his son, our faithful God cares for us and provides us with all of our needs. In our earthly lives, we sometimes become disobedient and defy his commands. As a result, we encounter pain, punishment, brokenness, and trouble.
But these are momentary episodes so that we can experience God’s correction in our lives. Everything works together for our good because of his unconditional love.
God Is Good
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.
— Psalm 136:1
God’s love and God’s goodness go together. His innate goodness and integrity were revealed when he created the entire universe to support his most magnificent creation, humankind. He even made the distant stars, planets, and moon to sustain life on Earth, established time and seasons, and gave us day and night.
As our great provider, he provides for our daily needs—food on the table, clothes to wear, and a home for our family. Because of God’s goodness, he also graciously gives us abundance in many other aspects of our lives. The goodness of God is especially experienced by those who love God.
God Is Holy
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty.
— Revelation 4:8
Our holy God is sacred and free from all blemishes and imperfections. He abhors evil and sin. In contrast, we are tarnished in his sight because of the Fall of Mankind, brought about by the sins of Adam and Eve.
But when we call on his holy name and remain faithful, we can have access to his holiness. Then we can experience this divine might, live in the Spirit, and not become subservient to the flesh. Because of God’s love, we also gain access to spiritual weapons to repel the intrusions of the enemy. God’s holiness manifests in us.
God Is Righteous
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.
— Psalm 145:17
God’s character exists in a position of moral perfection. He is faultless and perfect in all of his ways and precepts. When we ascribe to God’s righteousness, we bring order to our lives and our relationships with other people. We become ethical and righteous in the conduct and discharge of our daily lives.
God Is Just
The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright, is He.
— Deuteronomy 32:4
Because of God’s faithfulness and love for us, he rewards those who are faithful and discipline or punish the wicked. If we are obedient to him, we may long for his rewards on Earth. But our true reward, eternal life, awaits us in heaven. Likewise, we may loathe the fact that the sinful and wicked go unpunished, but rest assured, they will experience eternal wrath and suffering in hell.
How Farming Reveals God’s Characteristics
We Are Co-Workers With God
We are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field and God’s building.
— 1 Corinthians 3:9
In the Bible, God is likened to a landowner who provides the farm, seeds, rain, and farm implements. But as tenants and children of God, we are tasked with tilling the ground and reaping its harvest.
Like a harvest field, we are the innate residence of God and the Holy Spirit. It is God’s primary aim that we embody his goodness through the study and exercise of his Words. God wants us to build our faith in his temple within us through prayer, the reading of Scriptures, and active participation in the church.
Sowing And Reaping
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
— 2 Corinthians 9:6
The principle of sowing and reaping is an astonishing characteristic that God wants to impart to us. He demands goodness, industry, and fairness from us. We can earn this pious quality through persistence, perseverance, courage, and adherence to the right Biblical practice.
When we sow inferior or bad seeds, we also harvest poor produce. But when we sow good seeds and nurture them, we harvest rich and bountiful crops. A similar standard applies to our lives. If we practice righteousness and allow the good workings of the Spirit in our lives, we will become holy and righteous before God.
The Reasons Why We Need To Reflect On God’s Character
To Know Him And His Purpose
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
— Jeremiah 29:11
God’s character is good, and this trait is intrinsic to his character. If our will and purpose align with his plan, we enjoy the blessings and guidance of being the children of God. Our Heavenly Father also sent his one and only Son to save us from our sins.
To Know Our Purpose
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
— Proverbs 19:21
God created us with a purpose. He is a God of meaning and significance, and he did not create us just for our mere existence. By dwelling on the fact that God loves us, we conclude that God wants our lives to be filled with love, faith, hope, meaning, and purpose.
To Boost Our Faith
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
— Luke 17:5
God’s overriding desire is for us to know and worship him. The apostles struggled because their faith seemed short of the Messiah’s standards. Jesus Christ admonished them to grow in faith. God hates idolatry and unbelief. God abides in us when we constantly seek his presence. Today, we can witness and emulate God’s character when we worship and pray to him and soak in his words.
The Importance Of God’s Character That Informs Our Work
- We Work For The Glory Of God
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.
— Colossians 3:23
Regardless of the type of work in our lives, God will finally judge us according to the motives and sincerity of our labor. It does not matter if we are street sweepers, barbers, astronauts, or CEOs. God will look into our hearts if we are working for his glory. Does our labor align with his purpose? Does our work glorify him? Ultimately, we don’t work for ourselves or other people, but for the Lord.
- We Work In A Community
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
— Psalm 133:1
There are 7.5 billion people worldwide, and a large share of that number have some form of work. God did not create us to live in isolation. He designed us to live with others in many aspects of our lives. In church, school, at work, or home, we are charged with spending our living hours in the company of other people. God delights in the company of a community of believers working together towards an eternal and good purpose.
- We Work With The Holy Spirit
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
— Acts 1:8
We are not alone in our earthly sojourn. Whether in the pursuit of our holy goals or the discharge of our labors on Earth, God has provided us with a helper that dwells within us.
Paramount to our aims in life is the propagation of the gospel. God has given us the power and authority to share the good news with all people so that all may be saved. He has also given us strength and wisdom through the Holy Spirit so that we can accomplish the mundane tasks of our daily existence.
How To Imitate God’s Character
As Christians, we must seek to understand and embody God’s attributes to grow in resemblance to our everlasting God. This is what he wants for us as his children: to show everyone, including non-believers, what and who our true God is.
- Love and Compassion: Christ Jesus, the one and only Son of God, exemplified love and compassion during his time on Earth. As Christians, we can imitate God’s character by demonstrating God’s love and compassion towards others, showing kindness and empathy, and extending a helping hand to those in need, just as Jesus Christ did.
- Faithfulness: The Lord proves true to his promises, and his faithfulness is unwavering. As we strive to imitate God’s character, we can rely on his faithfulness as our guide. By remaining faithful in our relationships, commitments, and responsibilities, we mirror the nature of our faithful God.
- Truthfulness: God is an invisible God, yet his Word, the Bible, reveals the truth about him and his character. As Christians, we can imitate God’s character by aligning our lives with his truth, speaking truthfully, and living authentically according to God’s Word.
- Holiness: God is holy. God created all the earth and everything in it, establishing his authority and sovereignty. In imitating God’s character, we recognize his holiness and strive to live lives that reflect his purity, righteousness, and moral integrity. This requires us to honor and revere him. Just as Moses encountered holy ground at the burning bush, we approach God with reverence and awe, recognizing his majesty and holiness.
- Redemption through Christ: Christ’s death and resurrection provide the ultimate example of sacrificial love and redemption. By embracing the redemptive work of Christ Jesus in our lives, we can imitate God’s character by extending forgiveness, showing grace, and seeking reconciliation.
- Steadfast Love: God’s steadfast love endures throughout generations, extending even to our children’s children. As we seek to imitate God’s character, we can cultivate a love that perseveres, showing unconditional love and care to those around us.
- Forgiveness: God is forgiving iniquity and extending grace to all who repent. In imitating God’s character, we can foster a forgiving heart by extending forgiveness to others and allowing God’s grace to flow through us.
- Common Grace: God’s common grace is evident in his blessings bestowed upon all humanity, regardless of their faith or beliefs. In imitating God’s character, we can emulate his generosity and kindness by showing compassion, generosity, and love to all people.
- Wisdom: God’s wisdom and understanding encompass the deep things of life and the mysteries of the universe. While we may not fully comprehend all of God’s ways, we can seek his wisdom and guidance to navigate life’s complexities and imitate his character.
- Self-Control: God’s character is marked by self-control and discipline. As we imitate God’s character, we can cultivate self-control in our thoughts, words, and actions, allowing God’s Spirit to guide us in making wise and righteous choices.
Other God’s Characteristics To Meditate To
- God Is Gracious And Merciful
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and great in loving kindness.
— Psalm 145:8
Our Lord is not a God of unforgiveness. He is always full of grace and mercy. We are made in his likeness, and he feels distant when we remain in our sinful and wayward ways.
But because of God’s mercy and his unconditional love, he is always ready to extend his compassion when we approach him and seek his forgiveness. Because of our fallen nature, we deserve nothing here on earth. But it is only through God’s mercy and grace and our faith that we can gain eternal life and the right to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus Christ died for our sins to save the whole earth and give us the gift of eternal life.
- God Is Patient And Long-Suffering
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
— 2 Peter 3:9
God’s character has always been patient and forbearing toward the Israelites. Despite their intrinsic stubbornness, incessant complaints, and dissatisfaction, God did not leave or forsake them. Yes, he disciplined them in the desert, but he did not lose sight of their plight until they reached the Promised Land.
God remains faithful and is always accommodating to us, despite our sinful and disobedient ways. We are called upon not to remain in our sins but to repent and come back to his loving embrace. It is not God’s goal that we perish eternally in hell because of our defiance and disobedience.
- God Is Our Refuge And Helper
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
— Psalm 46:1
Whenever we face problems and trials of many kinds, we can run to God and seek his comfort, help, and protection. He is our Abba Father, who only wants good to happen in our lives.
Left to ourselves, we often become helpless when burdened by the concerns of the world or threatened by the threats of the enemy. But with God, we find a safe and holy shelter that can shield us from the most tumultuous storms that come our way. He is our everlasting rock, from which we can draw his immeasurable source of power and strength.
Conclusion
We often feel moved and emotional when we think about our imperfections—our mediocre physical appearance, faulty ways of thinking, and defective character. As a result, we compare ourselves to others and find ourselves falling short in many aspects. We also wonder about the perfect character of God. How can we possibly measure up to it and achieve a higher standard worthy of God and the respect of other people?
Humility and sincerity to become better are keys to upgrading our character to a lofty state. Most importantly, we can call on God and implore the Spirit to work within us. He dwells in us. With him, we can exude the likeness of the perfect character of God.