God’s character is unchanging; He is faithful to all He has promised.
When I get to heaven, I hope there’s an IMAX studio with a movie on repeat about Moses and the Exodus from Egypt. Can you imagine the soundtrack? Epic!
One scene I’d love to see on the big screen, complete with surround sound! is found in Exodus 33–34, when Moses dares to ask God, “Show me Your glory.”
And God DID!
The presence of the Lord descends in a cloud, and Moses hears God Himself proclaim:
Exodus 34: 5–7 (NIV)
Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished…
Another beautiful description of God’s character comes from King David:
Psalm 86:15 (NIV)
“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”
These verses paint a picture of who God is. His character is steadfast. If that’s true, and it is, then how are we, as believers, called to reflect that character? How can we live and share God’s Word in such a way that others *see* Him in us?
The Fruit of Abiding in Christ Is Spiritual
Galatians 5: 22–23 (NIV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”
When we surrender our lives to Jesus and seek to know His Word, the Holy Spirit produces fruit within us. This spiritual fruit is the very character of God on display.
We become more compassionate and gracious (kindness and goodness). We’re slower to anger (patience and forbearance). Our love for others deepens—not just for those we like, but also for those who challenge us.
As the Word of God takes root in our heart, soul, and mind, we grow in forgiveness, faithfulness, and self-control. This isn’t about changing behavior on the outside—it’s about transformation from the inside out.
The Fruit of the Spirit Is More Than Behavior Change
So many of us fall into the traps of people-pleasing and perfectionism. But these behaviors are exhausting and unsustainable.
True spiritual growth comes when we abide in Christ and allow His Word to dwell richly in us. The Holy Spirit does the transforming—our job is simply to remain connected to the Vine.
We begin to live God’s Word naturally, not out of performance, but out of love and devotion. Over time, His character becomes our character.
The Spirit Helps Us Live and Share God’s Character
This transformation isn’t about shouting our faith from street corners or moving to a foreign mission field—unless God calls us to that! Most often, the way we share God’s Word is through the quiet, consistent witness of our everyday lives.
As we grow in Christ, His Spirit within us impacts how we speak to others, how we serve our families, how we handle conflict, and how we show compassion in our communities.
There Will Be Something Different About You
Let me share a personal story.
Years ago, I was a newlywed working as an X-ray tech in Raleigh, NC. I was fresh out of school and eager to do a good job—and truthfully, still very much a people-pleaser. I wanted to be kind and gracious, but I was still learning what it meant to know God’s Word for myself.
One day at work, a coworker said, “I knew there was something different about you!” I was nervous. What had I done?
He explained that he’d noticed how I treated patients and how I spoke with the doctors and other staff. I was shocked. I didn’t realize anyone was watching so closely.
I had been praying to grow in my faith, but I was too focused on striving. God, in His kindness, was at work anyway, gently forming His character in me as I learned to abide.
It’s About Abiding, Not Striving
Genesis 1:26 (NIV)
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.’”
You were created to reflect the image of your Heavenly Father.
The more you walk with Him, the more you’ll reflect His heart. The more you know His Word, the more you’ll live His Word. And the more His Word transforms you, the more naturally you’ll share His Word with those around you.
As we abide in Christ, His Spirit works in us to reveal His character. We don’t need to chase perfectionism or approval. We simply yield to the Holy Spirit.
The Character of God Revealed in Our Lives
When the Spirit of God lives within us, we become living testimonies of His character.
It starts at home, extends into our relationships, and reaches into the marketplace and beyond. When we allow God’s Word to abide in us, we become less like who we were and more like who He is.
We begin to love more, forgive more, and grow in patience, kindness, and gentleness. Even our self-control and faithfulness grow—not because we’re trying harder, but because we’re abiding deeper.
God’s Word transforms us.
And as it takes root, we don’t just know His Word—we live it. And as we live it, we inevitably share it.
So let’s leave behind perfectionism and people-pleasing, and instead commit to one thing:
Abide.
Sweet friend, are you ready to reflect God’s character more deeply?
Start by abiding in His Word. Ask Him to transform you from the inside out—so that what overflows from your heart reflects His Spirit in every way.
Before you go, though, maybe you’d like to give the ABIDING IN CHRIST 3-DAY DEVOTIONAL a try. It’s free! Just click HERE.
