Christlike Characteristics

As those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

–Colossians 3:12

It is God’s will for every Christian to become like Jesus Christ. So how do we know if we’re really becoming like Christ?

Think about checking the oil in your car. You can’t see the oil in the engine, but when you pull out the dipstick, you can see whether the oil is in good shape.

Paul gave us a spiritual dipstick, of sorts, in Colossians 3:12, 14. He listed six characteristics that ought to be visible in our lives if we want to look like Jesus Christ: “As those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. . . . Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” This is not an exhaustive list, but if we’re truly becoming like Christ, then these characteristics will be evident in our lives. Today, let’s look at the first two characteristics.

First of all, a Christlike person is compassionate. The Greek word translated as “compassion” means to be moved in the bowels. In spiritual terms, it means being moved in your gut to meet the needs of people around you. That’s how Jesus lived. Over and over in the New Testament, He was “moved with compassion” to heal or help people. If you see somebody who needs food and clothing, and you have the power to help them, do it. If you meet another Christian who needs a word of encouragement, give it. That’s what it means to be compassionate like Jesus.

Second, a Christlike person is kind. The Greek word for kind was also used to describe wine that had mellowed with age and lost its bite. In spiritual terms, to be kind means to give people what they need rather than what they deserve–to deal with them based on grace instead of the law. That’s exactly how Jesus dealt with us. Titus 3:4–5 says, “When the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy.” The law says we all deserve eternal death, but God offered us His grace instead. If we’re becoming like Christ, then we’ll do the same with other people.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “What Every Christian Should Know About Christlikeness” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2022.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.