Title

Conforming To His Attributes

Scripture
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.
(Psalm 145:8)
Devotional
When Jesus commanded us to be perfect, just as His Father in heaven is perfect, (1) He was revealing this text as part of that perfection. God is gracious in that He equips us to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. He shows compassion because He is aware of our sufferings. He is slow to anger because He has chosen to love us and He is great in mercy simply because He is merciful. We are to manifest these same attributes to others, just as they have been imparted to us. We are to be gracious, not by means of tolerance, but by equipping others. We are to show compassion, by sharing the gospel. We are to be slow to anger by purposefully loving those whom God has commanded us to love. We are to be merciful, “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”(2) Therefore, our attitudes (attributes) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. (3)

(1) Matthew 5:48, (2) James 2:12, (3) Philippians 2:5 (NIV)
Thought For The Night
“A true love of God must begin with a delight in his holiness, and not with a delight in any other attribute; for no other attribute is truly lovely without this.” Jonathan Edwards, (1703-1758), theologian and key figure in America’s Great Spiritual Awakening
Evening Text
Psalm 145:8:  The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.
Looking for Answers
 
Evening Study Guide
Defining: “Attributes”: Those qualities and characteristics that reveal what we believe and who we are.
 
Referencing: “Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead,” Romans 1:20.
 
Applying: Seek the attributes of Christ, learn and apply them to every realm of your life.