I. I want to talk with you today about a process that God works into all His children that follow His ways. A. All of life is to change us and bring us to a certain point. He tells us what it is in a very short scripture.. II. Mat 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. This in the Greek means to be exactly like. A. Yes when we accept the Lord we are made perfect in the eyes of God.. because of Jesus.. B. But God wants to take what is imparted to us and put it in us and He does this over our lifetime.. It is called santification. C. He wants us to have His character... He wants us to respond to life like He would... D. He wants us to act like He would... III. What is this Godly character called. and how do we get it??? A. Well, when we refer to the Lord and "God is love" What we are doing is discribing His character. These are the character traits that are found in 1 Corth 13. B. Cor 13:4 God is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, C. Cor 13:5 never haughty or selfish or rude. God does not demand its own way. He is not irritable or touchy. He does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do Him wrong. D. Cor 13:6 He is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. E. Cor 13:7 If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. F. Cor 13:8 All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but God goes on forever. Someday prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge--these gifts will disappear. G. Cor 13:9 Now we know so little, even with our special gifts, and the preaching of those most gifted is still so poor. H. Cor 13:10 But when we have been made perfect and complete, then the need for these inadequate special gifts will come to an end, and they will disappear. I. Cor 13:11 It's like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I became a man my thoughts grew far beyond those of my childhood, and now I have put away the childish things. J. Cor 13:12 In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see him in his completeness, face to face. Now all that I know is hazy and blurred, but then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now. K. Cor 13:13 There are three things that remain--faith, hope, and Love--and the greatest of these is Godly Love (Agape). IV. So God wants us to be changed so we can have the character , His caracter we call love... V. How does He do it.??? It is explained in James one. A. When a trial comes that is difficult it tests our faith. The testing of our faith causes us to hold on or persevere. As we perserve something is changed in us and we are made mature and lacking in nothing. The thing that happens is we learn forgiveness, mercy, grace and love for others. Those abilities are Godly and they are the ability to love as God loves. 4