Character in action
Lisa Scheffler, author
What makes someone a “good person”? Since we can’t see into someone’s heart, we have to base our
assessment on what we can see. Like the proverbial tree falling in the forest (that may or may not make
a sound), we can only recognize goodness when there is someone who is impacted by it. I can walk
around announcing that I’m a good person, but unless you see me acting with kindness, compassion
or love toward someone else, you may not believe me. We witness good character when it is lived out
in relationships.
God tells us in his Word who he is, but he backs it up by what he does. The reason we can boast in our
Lord is because he has demonstrated his goodness over and over again. He shows us his character in
action. The more we know and experience God, the more apparent these qualities will be.
Today we will wrap up our exploration of Jeremiah 9:23–24, and when you hear the last part of verse
24 explained, you will be even more grateful to our great God.
Jeremiah 9:24b
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their
strength or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.
What three characteristics does God say he delights in exercising? Define each one as you
understand them now.
Lisa Scheffler, author
What makes someone a “good person”? Since we can’t see into someone’s heart, we have to base our
assessment on what we can see. Like the proverbial tree falling in the forest (that may or may not make
a sound), we can only recognize goodness when there is someone who is impacted by it. I can walk
around announcing that I’m a good person, but unless you see me acting with kindness, compassion
or love toward someone else, you may not believe me. We witness good character when it is lived out
in relationships.
God tells us in his Word who he is, but he backs it up by what he does. The reason we can boast in our
Lord is because he has demonstrated his goodness over and over again. He shows us his character in
action. The more we know and experience God, the more apparent these qualities will be.
Today we will wrap up our exploration of Jeremiah 9:23–24, and when you hear the last part of verse
24 explained, you will be even more grateful to our great God.
Jeremiah 9:24b
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their
strength or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.
What three characteristics does God say he delights in exercising? Define each one as you
understand them now.