5 Character Traits of Those Who Do the Father’s Will
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Jesus gave an extensive teaching to his disciples and masses of people that is famously known as the “Sermon on the Mount.” We can find this text in Matthew 5-7 and in it, Jesus sets up a new paradigm for what it looks like to live a good life that leads to Heaven. Many of Jesus' statements expanded on the principles that Jewish laws had long ago established, and Jesus presented the idea that God wants our whole hearts. Sin is more than what meets the eye, it is about each person's inner thoughts and motives.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
Jesus teaches that he alone is able to judge the heart of a man. While we may look at others and see what appears to be good works, we may be surprised to find that evil was lurking in their hearts. It is only those who do the will of the Father who are living in Heaven for eternity.
This begs the question: what is the character of those who are “doing the will of the Father?” As we examine the Sermon on the Mount, we can observe what it is that Jesus is defining as the blessed heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Here are five character traits of those who are doing the Father’s will:
1. Meek and Merciful
Jesus begins his speech with a poem called the Beatitudes that lays out some of the places blessings flow in God’s Kingdom. He defines the kind of person we need to strive to be in order to follow the instructions that he will lay out in the remainder of his talk. In this poem, he references the meek and merciful as being those who inherit the Earth and are shown mercy (Matthew 5:5-7).
As the text moves forward, we see that meekness references controlled strength or the willingness to put others before yourself. The merciful are those who are forgiving, compassionate, and forgo self-righteousness. These traits are necessary in order to live in the radically selfless Kingdom way that Jesus describes to his followers.
Matthew 5:42 tells us, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” In verse 44 Jesus adds to love your enemies and pray for them! Only the meek and merciful can set aside their pride enough to be obedient to even love those who seek them harm.
2. Radically Generous
Jesus calls his followers to be radically generous with their lives and resources. Giving should be so natural to us that we don’t think twice to step up to provide for those in need. Not only do we give up our physical resources, we give up our right for vengeance, judgment, and offer relentless forgiveness to those around us.
Matthew 6 lays out several principles when it comes to generosity. First, we need to give discreetly, not for our glory but for God’s. Next, we see that Jesus asks us to store up treasure in Heaven, meaning we are called to live for others, not for wealth. He goes on to tell us that we cannot serve both money and God. We must love our God and his mission to bring light into this world more than we love wealth.
Living with an open hand and trusting that he will provide for our needs is part of God’s will for our lives. It’s a constant surrender of our need to achieve, to gain security and comfort. Instead, we live a life defined by an unreasonable willingness to love others.
3. Filled with Peace
Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Those who are living in the father’s will are filled with a peaceful confidence that their Father is trustworthy. When we have a need, struggle with our sin nature, or are unsure about the future, we can seek, ask, and knock knowing our God will respond.
Matthew 5:9 tells us that the peacemakers are blessed; they will be called children of God. In order to be one that can make peace, we have to have peace in our own lives. We can only build bridges, lead others to healing, and foster unity through the power of the Holy Spirit that is alive in us. God’s way is not rushed, it’s not anxious. It’s full of grace, and those who do His will are filled with peace.
4. Bold Followers of God’s Truth
God calls us to be salt and light in this dark and dying world (Matthew 5:13-16). We are to illuminate God’s truth through the fruit that we bear in our lives. The Bible teaches that those who know God will follow his commandments, but God’s way goes directly against the wide road to destruction that our culture is pushing us towards (Matthew 7:13). We need a bold conviction that we will follow Jesus, learn his voice, and respond, or we will be swept away by our circumstances.
There are no halfway Christians in God’s Kingdom. Jesus warns that many who say they are followers of him but don’t bear good fruit will be rejected as Jesus will report he did not know them on the day of judgment (Matthew 7:21-23). Doing God’s will requires a wholehearted surrender to Jesus and making him Lord of your life. The firm foundation for our lives is his Word. Each part of us that wants to rebel against his ways. We must repent and ask for his gracious blood to cover our sins.
5. Filled with Wisdom
God’s way requires reflection, study, intentionality, and ultimately wisdom. Through the power of the Holy Spirit in us we are called to build our lives on the rock as the wise do (Matthew 7:24). We must be discerning to watch out for false prophets (Matthew 7:15). We let go of our right to judge in favor of letting God convict and bring holy rightness to the wrongs we see here on Earth (Matthew 7:1).
We are wise to store up treasures that last, not merely serving money as our master but investing in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-20). We focus on the light around us, not letting the darkness tempt us into doing evil (Matthew 6:22). Those doing God’s will invest in prayer and fasting because we know it keeps us connected to our Creator. Wisdom shows us which practices draw us closer to God here in the land of the living.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Ben Roberts Photography
Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is to encourage others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for My Daily Bible Verse Devotional and Podcast, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, the Daily Devotional App, she has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.