What’s He Like?
Do you ever wonder how people describe you when they are not with you? Do they describe you in a positive or a negative light? Are they accurate, or do they paint their own caricature of you? You can never control how people will speak of you behind your back, but you can choose how you would like to be. And, you can practice the qualities you want to work most deeply into your life. So, I guess a good question is – How would you like people to describe you to others?
My favorite description of God appears 8 times in the Old Testament. God is described as, “Slow to anger and abounding in love.” Does this sound like the God of the Old Testament? Yes, this is the God of both Covenants – There is only One God, and He is slow to anger and abounding in love. Isn’t this great news!
How did God develop this kind of a reputation? Actually, He developed it two ways. First we hear it from His own mouth. When He passed in front of Moses in Exodus 34:6, He proclaimed Himself to be, “The Lord, The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness.” He portrayed Himself this way, and He also demonstrated Himself this way. It’s not enough to describe yourself as you would like others to perceive you, you must also back it up by living it out.
Moses saw God’s abounding love when He delivered Israel from slavery. King David experienced God’s slow fuse and abounding love when he needed personal forgiveness, and when He saw God’s gracious rule of His Kingdom. The prophet Joel called people back to a deeper relationship with God, recognizing that such a God would receive their penitence (Joel 2:13). And the prophet Jonah knew that God was slow to anger and abounding in love, even though he didn’t want God to be that way. Jonah wanted God to judge the Assyrians without mercy, but he knew that if they came to God with a repentant heart that God would forgive and love them. This angered Jonah. (Jonah 4:2)
God described Himself as He was and as He wanted others to perceive Him. In His relationship with His people He was consistently slow to anger and abounding in love – even when it angered some. Jesus was slow to anger and abounding in love and some were frustrated because of it.
Would you like to bear God’s image by being slow to anger and abounding in love in the power of the Holy Spirit? I am sure He would love to demonstrate Himself and His Kingdom through you in this way. Take a moment and confess specific instances that come to mind where you have NOT been slow to anger and abounding in love. Declare your desire to change. Receive forgiveness in the name of Jesus. And, walk in this new, heavenly demonstration of the character of God – through His powerful help. Others will begin to see and describe the change.
Bearing God’s Image with You,
Pastor Tom
