HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 53
page A51
• MA L A C H I 3 :6 | “I am the Lord, and I do not change.”
• J A ME S 1 :1 7 | Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our
Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting
shadow.
Not only does God live forever, but his character remains unchanged forever. He is the
God of eternal consistency.
• 1 PE T E R 1 :4 | And we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven
for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
Since God and his Word never change, his promises never change either! This gives you
assurance that eternal life in heaven is a reality and will be as wonderful as the Bible says.
PROMISES FROM GOD
• NU MB E R S 2 3 :1 9 | “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not
change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not
carried it through?”
Integrity; Love; Maturity; Motives; Reputation; Wisdom
If two people were describing you, what would each say? How would they describe
the real you? What would they say about your character—the sum total of all that distinguishes you as a person from everyone else? Your reputation—what other people are
saying about you—is often a good indicator of your character. Your character reflects
who you desire to become. Ultimately your reputation is the mark of your character
stamped on society. Those striving for good character, or better yet for godly character,
are working toward moral excellence. And Jesus is the ultimate example of moral excellence. We work hard all our lives to become excellent in many areas, especially in the
areas of our work and hobbies. Doesn’t it make sense to also work hard at becoming
morally excellent, to be known as someone who has mastered the art of living in areas
that really matter, like integrity, kindness, love, and faithfulness? Ultimately we want our
character to be formed into the image of Christ.
Why does character matter?
• E Z E K I E L 1 8 :5 -9 | “Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and
right. . . . He does not commit adultery. . . . He is a merciful creditor. . . . He does not
rob the poor but instead gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.
. . . [He] is honest and fair when judging others, and faithfully obeys my decrees
and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the
Sovereign Lord.”
People often argue that their personal lives do not really matter so long as they perform
well in their public work. God, however, does not make a distinction between your public
and private lives. Justice, righteousness, integrity, mercy, honesty, fairness, and faithfulness are essential traits of a godly person’s character because they reflect who a person
really is. Such traits also demonstrate an understanding of what is truly important in life—
loving, honoring, and respecting God and others.
• 1 C O R I NT H I A NS 4 :5 | So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before
the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private
motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.
Sometimes you will be tempted to believe you are exempt from the standards to which all
others are subjected. Leaders who feel this way often abuse their privileges as leader. But
you must remember that whatever is hidden will one day be revealed.
HelpFinder
Character See also Commitment; Conscience; Faithfulness; Honesty &
C
• 2 C O R I NT H I A NS 5 :1 7 | Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old
life is gone; a new life has begun!