I Embrace Your Character

 

Have you ever met a person that stood out in a crowd as someone you would like to emulate?  Individuals that I’ve observed had pleasing personalities that were blessed with an amazing character.  Their pleasantries were pleasing and not only appreciated, but they were also approachable.

I think most people could do with a little life changing improvements in openness and congeniality, especially people like the select group of students that strutted around the campus of my old Alma Mater, many years ago.

These students related to and were a part of the 'In Crowd' as other students called it.  A few of them were real snobs, to put it lightly.  They wore expensive designer clothing, thinking they were privileged and above everyone else, many of which had a ‘me, me, me’ type personality.  It was all about them and their close nit compadres.

These kids could be spotted right away through their actions, demeanor, and the words they used.  Everyone called this group high society or white shoes.  They were in a club all to themselves, a ‘click’ that included a few individuals that hung together with their noses in the air.

As my memory serves me, I was concerned about their health and safety if it were to rain.  With their noses turned up they would have probably drowned.  Of course I’m exaggerating.  They perhaps were not as bad as I am making them out to be.  No doubt I was jealous that I wasn’t a part of the 'In Crowd'.

I was just a person on the outside looking in and wishing I was in the group, because of their popularity.  I didn’t agree with the way some of them, not all, treated other students that were not in their circle of friends.  They had little to offer, because of their self-centeredness, and for this reason I was not drawn to them. 

For me, I didn’t look down on anyone. My desire was to connect with students having compassion, and concern for others.  Something was missing inside me, and I needed someone to be my friend; a person that I felt comfortable embracing with their character.

Allow me to refocus on my thoughts.  I would rather take the rest of our time together reminiscing about people that have giving-type character traits that cause others to be drawn to them like a magnetic field that pulls metallic items to itself. 

I’ve noticed through the years that something special exudes from certain people that made me want to embrace them.  They were born-again Christians that had this wonderful quality and beautiful air about them.  I sensed something different regarding their demeanor at first glance.

It was the aura of Christ and His character that I was seeing.  The feeling I had made me want to embrace and even emulate their personality and character, were it possible.  I’m here to tell you that it is indeed possible to possess humility and at the same time show the character of Christ.

It takes leaving the self-indulgent demeanor of self, behind in the wake of positive changes in one’s character that is brought about through Jesus, God’s Son.  God’s Spirit was within each person, which drew me like a magnet before I became a Believer myself. 

It seemed like their flaws were far and in-between because they showed kindness to me.  Their heart had been changed by God.  They did not exalt themselves above me nor did they think they were better than I was.  It seemed that they were someone special and I wanted what they had and to know their inner thinking.

Now that I am a Christian, my desire is that people will see and perceive, from my aura, that there is something different about me as well.  I want the aura of godliness to shine brightly from me.  My desire is that my countenance and actions exemplify Christ, showing that I am a man of God with godly integrity that personifies the character of Jesus Christ.

I may be too bold to suggest that you ask yourself the following questions, as I will.  Am I quick to anger?  Am I long-suffering?  Do I exude kindness with a smile?  Do I present the fruit of the Spirit spoken of in the Bible?  Is this fruit active in my life every day or just on Sundays?

If the answers are somewhat hesitant, then we need to go back to the basics of our faith, our first love, and visit the altar-of-submission to revisit our communication skills with the Lord God Almighty. 

The awareness and implications of “not my will but Thine be done” are difficult to abide in and live up to at time, but as we yield our desires, emotions, and self-will to the Holy Spirit, He helps us to walk in the Spirit and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.

(Galatians 5:22-23), “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,” (vs 23) “gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.”

The attributes of Jesus can be ours if that is our true desire.  As we magnify His goodness to those around us, they will recognize, right away, that there is something different, something desirable that is showing through our smile.  They will want to embrace and be around these kinds of characteristics.

It takes work to emulate the Lord and His character; it just doesn’t happen.  It is sometimes easier to yield to the flesh and the old nature from whence we were delivered, than to discipline flesh of which the new-birth-experience set us free from when God saved our soul and forgave our sins.

When we ask the Holy Spirit to be the watchman at our mouth to bridle our tongue and to speak loudly to our heart when things don’t go our way, He helps us maintain our emotions before we blow up and do or say the wrong thing.

When we allow this act of obedience time to mature, we will stand steadfast in God’s strength.  Before long it becomes second nature to just give it all to Him and walk away in victory.  Let’s face it, we cannot do it on our own merits.  It takes God to help us—and He does.

(Romans 12:1), “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

Don’t give up on yourself.  Keep trying and changes will come in due time as you remain patient and true to the Lord.  We need to lean upon Jesus and give Him a chance to work in our behalf.  There is nothing better to hope and strive for than to be like the Lord.

I make it a point of saying, “I embrace Your character.”  God’s Spirit in us will draw people to Him.  It’s like building a fire when camping in the woods.  The company we are with, if cold, will huddle around the fire to get warm.  Likewise, people will want to embrace our warmth, because of the beauty and inviting warmth of our character when they see Jesus in us.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd