ENHANCING YOUR CHRISTIAN CHARACTER

2PETER 1:4-8

^4: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.^5: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;^6: And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;^7: And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.^8: For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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You

When you become a Christian, the word of God spells out great promises for the child of God since we have been delivered from the corruption of this world. We have been transformed into something precious which God has predestined for those HE has called out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Add on

Aside these, we have to build up a character to sustain our calling and be fruitful as workers in the ‘vineyard’. We therefore need to add or acquire certain qualities (v5-7) to our faith in God in order not to be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ:

     Diligence: means hard work and prudence in what you do. Are you putting all effort into the Lord’s work that you do or you’re lukewarm? In practicing even your profession, are you doing it to the glory of God?

     Virtue: means quality regarded as morally good. Is your morality a definition of the world? (Phil. 4:8).

     Knowledge: means fact of knowing through learning or experience. Are you still studying to know the Lord or you’re self-sufficient?

     Temperance: means moderation; self-restraint; self control; discipline. Is your level of temperance shipwrecking your faith?

     Patience: means ability to endure situations and circumstances. How do you manage your anger?

     Godliness: means holiness; devotion. Is your holiness mere lip service or your character?

     Brotherly kindness: means charity; generosity; goodwill. How selfish are you?

     Charity: means giving assistance to those in need. Are you sharing what you have with others or you are like the man who had abundant harvest and decided to build a ban and store the abundance?

These characters should be in us abundantly and not lackadaisically. It will make us increase in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and not make us idle and barren as most Christians have become in the world in these last days.

Brethren, the beginning and the end of our Christian life is Jesus Christ. Christianity is character and not mere words. Let us desire these characters so that our knowledge in Jesus Christ shall be meaningful and practical. Amen!