JUST LIKE OUR LORD – “THE CHARACTER OF GOD ALMIGHTY”

If sanctification is we being transformed into the likeness of the LORD Jesus Christ, then it does beg the question, “Do we know who our God is, and His character?” Unless we know who the LORD God Almighty really is, His standards, and His character, we can never become Christ-like in our thoughts, words and deeds. It is like, if we don’t know what our destination is, how will we arrive at our destination? We simply don’t know where to go, therefore, we won’t reach it.

Our meditations on Psalm 103:1-6  will conclude with today’s devotion. Let us read the passage which David penned.
– “​1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6 The LORD executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.” – Psalm 103:1-6

For our meditation let us look at the words of verse six – “THE LORD EXECUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE FOR ALL WHO ARE OPPRESSED.” This is the essence of all what David wrote about God, in the first five verses. It describes to us who God is. It speaks about the character of the LORD, who does all what the first five verses describe. It is the nature and the character of God that brings those blessings into reality. Do we know what God is actually like?
– “3 For I proclaim the name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God. 4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” – Deuteronomy 32:3-4

Let us look at a few verses from other references from the Word of God, that speak about the character of God, His righteous standards, His deepest desire, and what He truly delights in.
– “23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. 25 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;” – Jeremiah 9:23-25
– “6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?  7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” – Micah 6:6-8
– “11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? 12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.” – Micah 6:11-12

The standards of God declare His character. The process of sanctification is the process wherein, this character of God is being etched into the hearts and minds of all the saved sinners, the Christians. This is what becoming Christ-like is all about. If such standards are not part of our thoughts, words and deeds; if righteousness, justice, mercy and humility are not what we desire with all our hearts, and practice them impartially with all our strength, we cannot be called a child of God. How can a disciple of God be different from his Master? It is impossible. 
– “8 And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying, 9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: 10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.” – Zechariah 7:8-10

We are being sanctified by the power and the presence of God the Holy Spirit. If we don’t demonstrate the signs of transformation of our character from being worldly, fleshly, evil and wicked, to a godly character of righteousness, justice, mercy and humility, then we need to question ourselves seriously, if we are truly following the LORD Jesus Christ, or, are we deceived into following a false “christ.” Even so the LORD help us.