How can I explain to my children what God’s character is like?

In some ways, God is very different from us. He’s God, and he’s awesome. He’s the creator, and we’re creatures. But that doesn’t mean that we should talk about God in terms of his being so big and mysterious that we can’t possibly understand who he is and what he’s like. Even the unique and awesome things about God can be put in simple terms for children to understand.

Yet in many ways God is similar to us, and that’s what we should focus on first when we talk to our kids about God. He made us “in his image.” People have debated a lot about exactly what that phrase means, but one thing is for sure: everything good that God created as part of who we are is part of who God is, even though he’s not limited to or by any of these things.

With God revealing himself as being so similar to us in so many ways, we should be able to avoid talking about God as unknowable and completely mysterious. It’s through these similarities that our kids can easily begin to understand who God is and what he’s like, and to feel more comfortable with him and relate to him better. Here are some of the ways in which God has shown himself to be similar to us (or rather, ways in which we’re similar to God):

• He’s creative: he loves to design and make new things.
• He’s love: he enjoys giving and caring for others.
• He has emotions: he feels, and he expresses the way he feels.
• He has a sense of humor: he laughs and has fun.
• He loves beauty: music and art and nature.
• He loves being in relationships: he wants to know and be with us, as his children and his friends.
• He loves wisdom: understanding and knowledge.
• He talks and thinks: he plans and builds, and he pursues goals, enjoying work time and rest time in the process.

It’s important that our children have an accurate understanding of God’s character for three solid reasons. First, in order for them to trust God and develop a relationship with thim, they need to know what he’s like and what they can expect of him. Second, God created everything, including life itself, in harmony with his character, so understanding his character is essential to a successful life. And third, understanding God’s character gives children a picture of what their own character should look like.

The next 4 blogs will cover the four foundational descriptions of God’s character, from the Bible, that you can use to help your children better understand who God is.

(RICK OSBORNE / Christian Author, Speaker & Bible Teacher)