Applying God's Character and Example to Daily Life

Applying God's character and example to daily life involves imitating divine attributes and Christ's conduct in various aspects of Christian living ^{[10, 13]}. This imitation is rooted in the understanding that believers are children of God and should reflect their Father's nature ^[10].

One fundamental aspect of God's character to be emulated is holiness. Believers are commanded to be holy, just as God is holy, with Christ serving as the ultimate example of this attribute ^[3]. The character of God and Christ are presented as the standards for holiness, which is essential for worship and for seeing God ^[3]. The gospel itself is described as the way of holiness, and believers are elected and called to it ^[3].

Diligence is another quality exemplified by Christ, who rose early to pray (Mark 1:35) and was found in his Father's house (Luke 2:49) ^[1]. Christians are called to diligence in seeking God, obeying Him, hearkening to His word, striving for perfection, cultivating Christian graces, and guarding their hearts and souls ^[1]. This diligence extends to "labours of love" and "every good work," while also guarding against defilement and seeking to be found spotless ^[1].

Humility, a characteristic of saints, is also exemplified by Christ (Matthew 11:29; John 13:14-15; Philippians 2:5-8) ^[2]. Those who are humble are regarded, heard, and delivered by God, enjoying His presence and being lifted up and exalted by Him ^[2]. Humility is seen as a prerequisite for honor and leads to greater grace ^[2].

Devotedness to God is a hallmark of saints, with Christ again serving as the prime example (John 4:34; 17:4) ^[4]. This devotion is grounded in God's mercies, goodness, and call, as well as in Christ's death, our creation, preservation, and redemption ^[4]. It should encompass one's spirit, body, members, and substance, and be unreserved, abounding, and persevering ^[4].

Liberality, or generosity, is pleasing to God, who never forgets it ^[5]. Christ set an example of liberality (2 Corinthians 8:9), and it is a characteristic of saints (Psalm 112:9) ^[5]. Liberality should be exercised in the service of God, toward saints, servants, the poor, strangers, enemies, and all people, particularly in giving alms and relieving the destitute ^[5]. However, liberality is considered unprofitable without love (1 Corinthians 13:3) ^[5].

Patience is another virtue that God embodies (Romans 15:5) and Christ exemplified through His suffering (Isaiah 53:7; Acts 8:32; Matthew 27:14) ^[6]. Believers are enjoined to cultivate patience, allowing it to have its "perfect work" (James 1:4) ^[6]. Trials are understood to lead to patience, which in turn produces experience and hope ^[6]. Patience is to be exercised in running the Christian race, bearing fruit, doing good, and waiting for God and Christ ^[6]. The author of Hebrews challenges believers to endure by imitating Jesus, the "supreme example of faithfulness," particularly in suffering ^[14].

The concept of imitating God is explicitly stated in Ephesians 5:1: "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children" ^[13]. This imitation is primarily expressed through love (Ephesians 5:2), reflecting God's love for humanity ^[10]. Just as children naturally follow their parents' example, believers are called to follow God's ^[10]. Josephus also noted that those who would give laws should consider the Divine nature and imitate God's operations as the "best of all patterns" ^[7].

The practical application of these principles means that believers are to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ," so that Christ alone is visible in their lives, and to avoid making provision for the desires of their corrupt nature ^[15]. This commitment to God's truth requires habitual dedication to become part of one's character ^[11]. The apostle John states that "as he is, we also are in this world" (1 John 4:17), indicating a present reality of conformity to Christ's character ^[8]. Early Christians demonstrated this by daily teaching and preaching Jesus in public, showing a zealous and incessant devotion to their work ^[9]. This daily commitment to God's precepts is seen as a "mystery of godliness" that brings "unspeakable advantage" ^[12].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility — Necessary to the service of God -- Mic 6:8. Christ an example of -- Mt 11:29; Joh 13:14,15; Php 2:5-8. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 34:2. The who have Regarded by God. -- Ps 138:6; Isa 66:2. Heard by God. -- Ps 9:12; Isa 10:17. Enjoy the presence of God. -- Isa 57:15. Delivered by God. -- Job 22:29. Lifted up by God. -- Jas 4:10. Exalted by God. -- Lu 14:11; 18:14. Are greatest in Christ's kingdom. -- Mt 18:4; 20:26-28. Receive more grace. -- Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6. Upheld by honour. -- Pr 18:12; 29:23. Is before honour -- Pr 15:33. Leads to riches, honour, ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Devotedness to God — A characteristic of saints -- Job 23:12. Christ, an example of -- Joh 4:34; 17:4. Grounded upon The mercies of God. -- Ro 12:1. The goodness of God. -- 1Sa 12:24. The call of God. -- 1Th 2:12. The death of Christ. -- 2Co 5:15. Our creation. -- Ps 86:9. Our preservation. -- Isa 46:4. Our redemption. -- 1Co 6:19,20. Should be With our spirit. -- 1Co 6:20; 1Pe 4:6. With our bodies. -- Ro 12:1; 1Co 6:20. With our members. -- Ro 6:12,13; 1Pe 4:2. With our substance. -- Ex 22:29; Pr 3:9. Unreserved. -- Mt 6:24; Lu 14:33. Abounding. -- 1Th 4:1. Persever”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberality — Pleasing to God -- 2Co 9:7; Heb 13:16. God never forgets -- Heb 6:10. Christ set an example of -- 2Co 8:9. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 112:9; Isa 32:8. Unprofitable, without love -- 1Co 13:3. Should be exercised In the service of God. -- Ex 35:21-29. Toward saints. -- Ro 12:13; Ga 6:10. Toward servants. -- De 15:12-14. Toward the poor. -- De 15:11; Isa 58:7. Toward strangers. -- Le 25:35. Toward enemies. -- Pr 25:21. Toward all men. -- Ga 6:10. In leading to those in want. -- Mt 5:42. In giving alms. -- Lu 12:33. In relieving the destitute. -- Isa 58:”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Patience — God, is the God of -- Ro 15:5. Christ, an example of -- Isa 53:7; Ac 8:32; Mt 27:14. Enjoined -- Tit 2:2; 2Pe 1:6. Should have its perfect work -- Jas 1:4. Trials of saints lead to -- Ro 5:3; Jas 1:3. Produces Experience. -- Ro 5:4. Hope. -- Ro 15:4. Suffering with, for well-doing, is acceptable with God -- 1Pe 2:20. To be exercised Running the race set before us. -- Heb 12:1. Bringing forth fruits. -- Lu 8:15. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; Ga 6:9. Waiting for God. -- Ps 37:7; 40:1. Waiting for Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 2Th 3:5. Waiting for the hope of the gospel. -- R”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 4: life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and, upon the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to endeavor to follow after it: neither could the legislator himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would any thing he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers; I mean, unless they be taught first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, a”
I John “I John 4:17 (DRC) — In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world.”
Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 5:42: Daily in the temple - That is at the hours of morning and evening prayer; for they felt it their duty to worship God in public, and to help others to make a profitable use of the practice. Every man that professes Christianity should, in this respect also, copy their conduct: nor can any man be considered to have any religion, let his sentiments be what they may, who does not attend on the public worship of his Maker. They ceased not to teach and preach Jesus - Far from desisting, they became more zealous, yea, incessant, in their work. They took advantage of the publ”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:1: 5:1 Imitate God . . . in everything you do: Primarily by expressing love (5:2; cp. Matt 5:44-45, 48). • because you are his dear children: Just as children follow their parents’ example, believers should follow God’s example (1 Cor 4:14-17).”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 26:3: 26:3 For God’s truth to become part of one’s character requires a habitual commitment.”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 3:1: We are here taught to live a life of communion with God; and without controversy great is this mystery of godliness, and of great consequence to us, and, as is here shown, will be of unspeakable advantage. I. We must have a continual regard to God's precepts, Pro 3:1, Pro 3:2. 1. We must, (1.) Fix God's law, and his commandments, as our rule, by which we will in every thing be ruled and to which we will yield obedience. (2.) We must acquaint ourselves with them; for we cannot be said to forget that which we never knew. (3.) We must remember them so that they may ”
Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 5:1: Here we have the exhortation to mutual love, or to Christian charity. The apostle had been insisting on this in the former chapter, and particularly in the last verses of it, to which the particle therefore refers, and connects what he had said there with what is contained in these verses, thus: "Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be you followers of God, or imitators of him;" for so the word signifies. Pious persons should imitate the God whom they worship, as far as he has revealed himself as imitable by them. They must conform themsel”
Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 12:1: 12:1-17 The author challenges his hearers to endure in following Jesus, the supreme example of faithfulness, by imitating him in his suffering (12:1-4), by enduring under God’s discipline (12:5-13), and by living in peace with others (12:14-17). 12:1 huge crowd of witnesses: The host of faithful followers of God (ch 11) bear witness to the truth that God blesses the life of faith. • let us strip off every weight: In Greco-Roman literature, a race is a metaphor for the need for endurance in life. Just as extra weight hinders a runner, sin . . . trips us up. It ent”
Romans (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Romans 13:14: But--to sum up all in one word. put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ--in such wise that Christ only may be seen in you (see Co2 3:3; Gal 3:27; Eph 4:24). and make no provision--"take no forethought." for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof--"Direct none of your attention to the cravings of your corrupt nature, how you may provide for their gratification." Note, (1) How gloriously adapted is Christianity for human society in all conditions! As it makes war directly against no specific forms of government, so it directly recommends none. While its h”

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