“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor
does a bad tree bear good fruit.” (Luke 6:43)
This past
Wednesday I began a look at the concept of Christian character; its definition
and its importance to our lives. In
nearly every high-profile political race we see in America, the issues of the
election often take a back seat to the usual overwhelming concern about the
personalities involved. Image
consultants, experts in strategy, and various other “experts” are brought into
campaigns to "soften or strengthen" their candidate's image, while
doing everything in their power to destroy their opponent's. Candidates use these tactics to their maximum
potential and seek to give their constituents a, most likely, false or
incomplete impression of the candidate.
Since much of the
world has gone from a “moral” philosophy to the present “immoral or amoral”
one, how one “appears” to the
world has become the goal rather than the “reality” of who we are and what we
represent. Phrases like "perception
is reality" have become the refrain for many who want people to view them
in a positive manner, rather than who they truly are. What we see is very often not what we get, but
a homogenized version we see portrayed.
Growing up I
was constantly reminded of the importance of a good name. My
parents and grandparents never let me forget that our family name was to be protected
in both word and deed. Because when it
came down to the end of the day, all you really had was your good name.
The philosopher
Elbert Hubbard probably put it very concisely when speaking about how we regard
reputation only on its own merits, "Many a man's reputation would not know
his character if they met on the street." This is especially true of people with
celebrity status, such as politicians, actors, and athletes, whose reputations
are often slanted by the media or others, and leaving an impression that may or
may not be who that person actually is. As
Hubbard reveals, the crucial aspect of character, must be to get a real picture
of who a person is, not only as he appears. In light of this, what does God have to say
about character?
Proverbs 22:1
says, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is
better than silver or gold.” The Hebrew
word for “name” designates something as a mark or memorial of individuality,
and by implication, honor, authority, or character. From this verse, we see that a good name (a
combination of reputation and
character) should outweigh riches, position and status. On the other hand, a lack of either can leave
us in a state of moral and/or spiritual poverty, seeking self-worth over godly
worth. And in the New Testament, Jesus
Christ is revealed as the perfect standard by which to measure our character,
personal growth, and development.
Here are some
guidelines which will help all of us mold our characters into what our God
would have them to be:
1. Inscribe
the greatest commandment on your heart.
“Love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
Jesus commands us to
love God above all else, with our entire being!
And then we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. That means several things: Love God. Love your
neighbor. Love yourself. Many of us are
good at one or other of these things, but rarely do we commit to a life of
living all three. It can be difficult to enthusiastically love
someone you are upset with, or with whom you have a heated disagreement. It can be difficult to love yourself when you
make frequent mistakes or fail to measure up to your own expectations. It can be hard to love God when He sometimes
feels distant. However, with daily
effort and surrendering to God’s leading, you can grow in the right direction
with this commandment.
2. Commit
to a daily practice of reading God’s Word.
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it
day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”
(Joshua 1:8a)
It can be difficult
to commit to daily Bible reading, but it is essential for growing in knowledge
of God’s will and instructions for godly living. You should take at least fifteen minutes a
day, read a passage from the Bible, and pray about what you read. Ask the Holy Spirit to apply the wisdom of
scripture to your life.
3. Live
a life of thankfulness.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one
body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in
you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you
sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And
whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:15-17)
Take a journal and
every day, attempt to write five to ten things for which you are thankful. Even on the most difficult days, you can find something to be grateful for. Taking time to remember your blessings can
provide you with an opportunity to be positive when you would normally be
negative about your circumstances. The
Bible urges us to be thankful at all times. Keeping a thankfulness journal can
help you look back through your life and see the beautiful moments that might
otherwise be forgotten.
4. Find
opportunities to serve others.
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must
be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even
the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45)
Perhaps you’re
married with children, or maybe even single, but belong to a vibrant church
community. Whatever your situation, be
intentional about serving the people in your life. Build them up with kind, encouraging words. Help them with tasks around the house or your
city. Be helpful to those that need
help. Offer hospitality. Extend good will just to be loving.
5. Approach your flaws, bad habits, carnal tendencies, and sins one step at a time.
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according
to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)
Now, only God can
make miraculous, sweeping changes in your life and He may choose to do so (or
not) at any time. However, even if God
doesn’t come in and immediately make you a holy and righteous individual, you
have a responsibility to commit to a life of change. Your sins are forgiven, but Jesus told many of
those who came to Him for healing to “go and sin no more.”
"He also says, Your word I have hidden in my
heart, that I might not sin against You! (Psalm 119:11)
Endeavor to
change your wrong behaviors and character flaws, but do it with grace for
yourself. You’re still human. Though the
Holy Spirit lives inside you, you cannot make your life completely new by
yourself. You’re on a journey with
Christ. A journey is made by hundreds of
steps, beginning one at a time. Take on your
life in the same way. Do not be
overwhelmed because God will help you.
With the above
information in mind, keep this verse close to your heart and take encouragement:
“Therefore, since we
have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of
what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has
brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we
confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice,
too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us
develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character
strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”
(Romans 5:1-4)
The definitive
mark and goal for us should be a good name and a fervent desire to grow in holy
and righteous character. Then we can
truly reflect our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to the lost world around us.
Can God
change your life?
God has
made it possible for you to know Him, and experience an amazing
change in your own life.
change in your own life.
Discover
how you can find peace with God.
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