Jesu Juva
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (WEB)
Even though we understand that God is Spirit, haven’t you created your own image of Him in your mind?
For many, abstract ideas are mystifying. We want to see so that we can know. But for believers, our faith is not made perfect by physical sight first, is it?
Our faith is made perfect by believing through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We believe in spite of what we see or feel. We believe because of God’s great love and kindness. (Romans 2:4)
True believers know how to see God in this world, without having a physical form to view.
If God had a physical form, He would still be indescribable. No mortal words could fully tell what we would see. Read the fruits of the Spirit; they offer a starting point. His attributes help us see the beauty of our God.
God is breathtaking. His heart is a lovely canvas that draws his children’s gaze forever.
So, what if someone asked you to paint a picture of what God would look like to you? How could you reverently depict the Lord of all—Abba?
Drawing from His attributes in Galatians 5, let’s paint the masterpiece.
I think you will agree, it’s a wonderful likeness of our God.
Take a look with me.
God’s Eyes
We are going to first paint God’s eyes with a wonderfully brilliant blue because in His eyes we see His chief attribute, love—deep and mighty like the blue sky and the deepest ocean.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.
John 3:16-17 (WEB)
God’s love is not our kind of love. His love does not change.
God’s love is opposed to anything that would harm our souls and models true, costly sacrifice. He sacrificed more than any mere man ever has or will-Jesus.
God’s love isn’t selfish. God’s love pursues people that hate Him. God’s love doesn’t give up on us when we give up on Him. He is persistent in seeking the lost. Yet He will let you go when you insist.
God’s love forgives, provides, disciplines, unifies, is changeless, cries, laughs, sings, creates, makes and keeps promises and infinitely more. Using these words, do a search on passages that teach these things about God. He really does laugh!
Aren’t his eyes of love beautiful?
God’s Smile
Now let’s paint God’s smile with His next attribute, joy. How about a warm color for His smile. The smile that showed us the joy of His precious Son.
But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” Matthew 17:5
God had joy in creation. Genesis 1:31
God has joy in the believers. 1 John 3:1
God has joy when lost sinners repent. Luke 15:24
God’s Spirit
Why don’t we continue painting our portrait with the soft shade of peace.
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1
The third attribute of our Father is an expression of tenderness for us. He wants us to know peace that passes our ability to understand. Peace in times of sorrow and loss. Peace when repenting of our sin, knowing that even with the lasting sin scars, our souls are still held fast in His arms. Nothing can threaten the Peace of our God when we walk closely with Him.
God’s Hands
Now, the remaining attributes of God are all found in His hands. The color that I chose for God’s hands is the reflection of the emerald rainbow, as it appears in the book of Revelation. It is a full circle, not an arc. It is as an emerald, not multi-colored. And it’s true meaning represents His sovereign glory.
_that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.
Revelation 4:3 (WEB)
Think about each attribute as it can be demonstrated by touch. Think of God’s hands of Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control.
Patient hands don’t push, pull, or greedily grab. They don’t cause harm. Patient hands reach down instead of pulling at or tugging. 2 Peter 3:9
Kind hands brush hair lightly away from a child’s face. They minister tenderly to injuries and wipe tears. Kind hands don’t balk at filth; they clean filth. God cannot touch filth, so His kindness provided Jesus to be saturated with our filth. Kind hands give. Titus 3:4-6
Hands that offer goodness share the Gospel with lost people. Goodness opens doors to forgiveness and restoration; they never tear, hide, cheat, hit, trick, or manipulate. They are peacemakers. Psalm 119:68
Faithful hands belong to a friend. They hold other hands that are lonely or tired. They are always there when needed. Faithful hands disregard their own desires when necessary. Faithful hands hold out hope. Faithful hands can be counted on. 2 Timothy 2:13
Gentle hands never shame others by pointing out flaws. Gentle hands don’t hide the truth, but they are kind in revealing the truth so that healing can take place. Gentle hands tend to the weak. Gentle hands convey love without a single word being spoken. Gentle hands minister. James 3:17
Hands that practice self-control are willing to wait. Hands of self-control allow others to go first. They stay away from harmful desires. They don’t react. Hands of self-control are strong. Romans 9:22
Can’t you just see God a little better now? Don’t you want to show your portrait of God to other people? Well, you can. You can show others the attributes of God by filling your heart with His big heart. Fill your heart with the Fruit of the Spirit.
Modeling the Fruit of the Spirit in all of your words, deeds, motives and thoughts will attract people to the Father. The Father has provided Jesus for their salvation. The Father provided the Holy Spirit for peace, guidance, awareness of sin, awareness of God’s holiness and so much more. That is what we need.
The title of our portrait?
Breathtaking!
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
World English Bible (WEB)
by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 