God Character
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5).
God calls us to reflect His image as well. According to Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the word charaktēr applied to a carved statue of a person. A sculpture develops totally from what is taken away. God chisels and chips away our rough spots to leave only the intricacies of His love, patience, diligence, truthfulness, wisdom, and countless attributes. We seek to have the mind of Christ. We live to have Christ formed in us.
As God sculpts us into a remarkable representation of Himself, He does not stop with just cutting away the bad. He hones and polishes what is good. Like a cabinet maker, He brings out the hidden texture, shows the grain and character already part of the unfinished product. God builds us up while He cuts away whatever is not like Him. After letting things go, we experience the sweet-painfulness of God buffing and shining up our attitudes, conduct, and thought patterns.
”Lord, let me become like you. I don’t want to live in strife or self-interest. Help me to think about others more than I think about myself. I want Your mind and Your character in every aspect of my life. Amen.”