Topic: Christlike Character
Bible Reading: Psalm 75-77; Romans 6.
Memory Verse: “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Romans 6:22 (KJV) .
When you become a child of God, it means you have changed your entire life. You start by changing your lordship from Satan to Jesus Christ. This means your character should now reflect the character of Christ and no longer that of Satan. In summary, your character should change if you are truly born again. The founder of a Pentecostal church in Nigeria used to ask newly born again children of God what they are born again from, to confirm the transformation in their Lordship. The expected response is to state the character traits of Satan that were part of you before you gave your life to Christ which you should now be ashamed of and have now changed. The Bible puts it succinctly in Romans 6:21 (KJV), “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.” Such traits include stealing, lying, gossiping, cheating, backsliding, fornicating, adultery, kidnapping and murder amongst others.
So if you are truly born again, you and people around you should know some of the character traits that you are now born again from. That is what will tell people you are born again and not just your announcement.
Romans 6:22 (KJV) puts it this way, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Your fruit of holiness will show in the way you show love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (self control). Galatians 5:22-23.
You need to critically examine yourself what character you truly exhibit; those of satan, that will cause shame or those of the Holy Spirit that will bring life! It does not matter your position or age in the ministry, what is key is who do you reflect in your lifestyle?
The good news is that it is not late for you to re-align by praying and emulating Jesus Christ in your life. But it cannot happen by mere wish or willingness. It can only start by a spiritual change of lordship. Reject Satan in all its ways and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour and confess this by your mouth. There will be a spiritual operation immediately, a new Spirit will be given you and you begin to hate things of the devil and love those of the Spirit.
Prayer point:
Examine yourself and pray to God for forgiveness of your sins and recommit to obedience to the word of God.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero