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Embodying the Character of God

Last week we went to pick up our dry cleaning and drop off some different clothes (we have it down to a pretty good cycle so we aren’t ever out of clothes). Jarrod went in to pick them up but they were missing. They looked under all the “Jarrod’s”, found nothing and basically told us they weren't there. We asked what we needed to do to get them back and they said the manager would have to deal with it when she came in on Wednesday (two days from then). I was upset, to say the least, because I needed the pants for work the next day and Jarrod needed his dress shirts for meetings. Reluctantly we left the dry cleaners and as our day went on, I alternated between being overly upset and knowing God would fix the problem.

By my husband’s gentle leadership, he reminded me to seek God as I battled the pull towards doubting God’s character. I was reminded to stay emotionally honest while still knowing that God is the protector and provider. My heart’s desire is to stay in a world of knowing that God will take care of it, rather than freaking out over a pair of replaceable pants and shirts. I want to disperse light and hope to those around me than drag others down into my worries. The only way to do this is to be filled with God’s love and to know his true character. He has a true character of love, peace, patience, kindness, reconciliation, protection and so much more. Being filled with this truth and light will allow us to walk out our lives in a purpose driven, hopeful way. On Wednesday when the manager came in, I stopped by and she fixed the problem. The clothes were there under a different name and she insisted not to charge me for the trouble. I walked away a happy customer with clean clothes in hand and pep in my step.

Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesians about our acceptance into God’s family. With that acceptance comes unity, relationship, inheritance, love and light planted within and the ability to pour out the power of the Holy Spirit on everyone around us. God loved us and knew us before we were born, he made us to glorify his plan, he sent his only son to demonstrate his love and to save us from our sins, he made us part of his family by the blood of Christ, planted the Holy Spirit within our hearts empowering us to do his will on Earth as one family through the immensity of his love.

The final two chapters of Ephesians, Paul uses marriage, families, and work relationships to demonstrate the relationship of God to the church, a father and his child, and a slave and his master. We think the point of this chapter is not to give you a step by step formula of how to save your marriage, how to discipline your children, or how to how to be a good employee but to  prompt you to learn more about the character of God and to embody his character as you relate to others and stand against evil schemes (Ephesians 6:10-20).


What is the character of God? God is love. He made love, he pours out love, he encourages love, he demonstrates love and his only motivation is love. When you are filled with this love, it changes how you react to life and to schemes of the devil. To know his character is like a shield against evil schemes. To know the love of God is to know strength, perseverance, patience, kindness, submission, obedience, leadership, gratitude, hope, joy, encouragement and so much more. When you embody his character, your perspective on each relationship shifts; you will no longer go forward in life looking to fulfill yourself or your own agendas but to fulfill God’s purpose in showing love to one another. Take your focus off yourself and shifts your eyes and heart to Jesus for a happier, healthier life.
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