Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The Author's Character Series - Jesus' Character

Net's Notation Tuesdays
The Author's Character Series
Jesus' Character


It’s Christmas week. What a great time to focus on Jesus and His character.

As we work our way through this new series on the author’s character, let’s zero in our example: Jesus, the ultimate Author. As God works on our character, He invites us to study His.

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV)

Jesus is the author of your life. He knows the length of your days. Your life is a book He’s penning. (see Psalm 139:16)

And He is perfect. He does all things well, even the writing of Your life. He knows the best timing for everything to take place. He calls us to aim for perfection in our character, in our lives.

He is humble. He inspired the entirety of Scripture (He is the Word, spoken of God), yet do you ever see a prideful boast come from His mouth?

He is patient. He is waiting what feels like forever for His bride, but can you make out even a whispered complaint?

He trusts God. He went to the cross in full trust of God’s perfect plan.

He is a servant. He washed His disciples feet, the act of a slave, setting an example of His people serving others with their lives. He didn’t come to be served, though He is the King of kings, He came to serve others.

He is self-sacrificing. He left glory to come to earth and suffer on our behalf so we could have life more abundantly and an eternity with Him in glory.

He ministers to others. He put others above Himself while He lived on earth and even now He lives to make intercession for us.

He is joyful. God has anointed Him with joy above His fellows because He loves righteousness. (see Psalm 45 and Hebrews 1)

As you read that short list of some of the attributes of Christ’s character, do you see any areas where you could stand to grow? I do.

God is at work conforming us to the image of Christ. Our responsibility as God crafts our character is to cooperate. Respond whenever He shows you things about yourself that need work. Don’t recoil or immediately feel ashamed. He’s not showing us areas where we need work in order to shame us. He’s showing us because seeing the area that needs work is the first step to getting free.

Rest in Him. He’s working on the author’s character.

Merry Christmas, dear readers. May this Christmas season draw you nearer to His heart.

Annette