Christian Attributes

June 1998

We are to be Christians, which means “Christ Like”.  To be “Christ Like” we need to study Jesus’ attributes and then adopt them as our own.

An attribute of Jesus that we should adopt is that he always prayed for noble things.  Many of the prayers people prayed are recorded in the bible.  Sometimes God said, I will give you what you ask.  How did these people cash in on the Heavenly Lotto? 

Abraham’s request: Help me follow you.

Moses’ request: Help me free your people.

David’s request: Help me slay the giant threatening our people.

Esther’s request: Help me save our people.

Solomon’s request: Give me wisdom to rule your people.

Isaiah’s request: Give me clean lips to speak your word.

Peter’s request: Help me feed your sheep.

Jesus’ request: Help me show them your love.

Isaiah 32:8 says the noble person plans only noble things.  Jesus requested only noble things.  He asked for healing, for forgiveness, for love.  He claimed the verses from Isaiah 61 as his mission.  He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to give for ashes a garland, for a mourning robe the oil of gladness, for despondency, praise.  Jesus asked for noble things

As we pray lets us pray for noble things, such as how to shine more light in a world cursing the darkness, how to contribute more to the noble causes in the world.  Maybe, if we think more about it, we can become “nobility”, because we asked for noble things.  Jesus asked for noble things.

One of Jesus’ attributes was that he did not waste his time judging others.  Jesus saw judging others as a major waste of energy.  He stated many times that he did not come to judge, but that he came to help.  He did not spend one minute on the demolition crew.  He spent his energy on creation and restoration.  Judging others was not his job.

In Matthew 7:1, he said,  Judge not.  Judgment halts progress.  When we judge others we inhibit our own forward motion, because it take time away from us, stops us from doing our mission.  Sometimes we judge others in ways we are unaware of, such as looking to see where they are in the race.

Jesus said to Peter, What business is it of yours what I say to John?  Keep your eyes on your own forward motion.  Jesus judged no one, because he knew the final count was not in yet.  Even the thief nailed on the cross beside him made it to Paradise because, with his dying breath, he acknowledged and saw the truth.  

Jesus did not waste his time or energy judging others.  If you are not where you wish to be in your race, perhaps you need to examine this attribute of Jesus and spend your energy on creation and restoration.

Another attribute of  Jesus that we should adopt is that he always made positive statements.  Jesus did not look back on the events of his life and say,  Hmmm...., I must be the Son of God.  He declared himself to be the Son of God, and the proof followed.

Probably many people would describe Jesus as one of the most humble beings who every walked the earth.  Yet consider what he said about himself in the Bible.  Everything he said about himself was positive.

There is a proverb that says, “A man’s curses will fall and wrap themselves around him like a cloak.”  What a powerful visual image that is.  What if every word we said fell and wrapped itself around us like a garment?  What kind of wardrobe would we have?  Words have power.  Jesus spoke loving, powerful, and confident words about himself and others. 

It is interesting to listen to the self talk of super athletes.  An article in which one of the greatest female tennis players of all time reviewed a game that she lost.  Every statement she made about herself was still positive.  People who succeed speak well of themselves to themselves.  No where in the Gospel does Jesus put himself down.  Jesus was full of positive statements for Himself and others.