Each week at my church I meet with a group of four and five year old children who call themselves "Christian Character." They have made designs on their shirts depicting a biblical character. Proudly each week, they wear their shirts with the picture and name of such godly persons as David, Daniel, Esther, and Mary.
As adults we no longer say, "When I grow up I would like to be godly like..." But our character has been developed, and we wear it inwardly and others judge us by our actions.
It saddens me when I see Christian women not acting in ways that will bring glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. What are some of the characteristics, which we should strive to express in our daily living? Each day of the week we should display the following:
Compassion - "Pity for the suffering with desire to help or to spare." This is seen each and every day in the world. Are you one who pays little attention to those who are suffering? When another sister or brother comes to you in sorrow do you say, "I'll pray for you," but never think again about their problem? In I Peter 3:8 God says, "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous."
Patient - "The quality or habit of enduring without complaint." This is a characteristic, which in this hurry up and get it done world, Christians seem to get caught up in. Charge it! because I can't wait until I have enough money. Not praying before making a decision because you want it to happen now. Not listening to your children, friends, or spouse because you're too busy. Getting a headache in traffic because it's moving too slow. In James 1:4, we read: "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
Kind - "Having gentleness, tenderness, or goodness of heart." This one characteristic should bring a smile to your face. Do you know anyone who you can call a kind person? Are you a kind person? As a Christian woman, this is something, which truly glorifies the Lord. Why do some find it difficult to be kind? It is easy to treat those who are your family, friends, or members of your church with tenderness, but remember the unsaved need to be especially cared for and loved. In Ephesians 4:32 we read: "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Gentle - "Belonging to a family distinguished by blood, birth, or station." This meaning is really one to think about. As belonging to the family of Christ Who shed His blood for us, and being born again we have inherited a position in His presence. Do unbelievers see you as a gentle woman? Do you bring credit to your actions as a Christian woman? II Timothy 2:24-25 reads: "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth."
Honest - "Fair and candid in dealing with others; true; just; upright; trustworthy." One way to completely destroy your testimony as a Christian in the eyes of others is to be dishonest in your daily transactions. When you are given too much money in change at a store the "old nature" tells you to just walk away. What a testimony it is when a Christian displays her integrity by being honest. Romans 12:17 says: "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide for things honest in the sight of all men."
Stedfast - "Firmly fixed in faith and devotion to duty; constant; unchanging." We are inundated with so many false religions today. If false teachers are not knocking at your door they are trying to feed these truths to you through the media. We must study the Word daily so that we will be grounded in the truth. Hebrews 3:16 says: "For we are partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end."
Pure - "Free from adulteration; clear; clean; hence genuine; stainless; pure motives." I want the young women especially to read the above sentence again. In this day the world is filled with so much filthiness. People are getting caught up with statements such as "If it feels good do it." For the unsaved these actions can only lead you to hell. And it you are saved God will deal with you in chastisement. This subject is taught so many, many times in the Bible. This shows how concerned God is with our purity. Titus 1:15 states: "Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their minds and conscience is defiled."
Sober - "Possessing properly controlled faculties; even-tempered; well-balanced; temperate in action or thought." These are what you, as a mother, wife, or friend should possess. So many children today cannot see these characteristics in their parents. Husbands do not see it in their wives because they are trying to be the leaders in the home. God has given us such clear instructions when He says in Titus 2:4: "That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children."
Prudent - "Exercising sound judgement; characterized by practical wisdom or discretion; not extravagant." All women need to try to be prudent. It is easy to take care of our wants instead of our needs. Remember: "Houses and riches are the inheritance of fathers; and a prudent wife is from the LORD" (Proverbs 19:13).
As Christians we are called to be a light to a lost and dying world. We can do so if we maintain and show forth consistent godly character.
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