CHARACTER
BREAD
3 His
divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our
knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us
his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate
in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil
desires. 5 For
this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to
goodness, knowledge; 6 and to
knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; 7 and to
godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these
qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and
unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But if anyone does not have
them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed
from his past sins. 2 Peter 1:3-9
(NIV)
13 Therefore,
prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the
grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not
conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you
is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am
holy." 17 Since
you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as
strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things
such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed
down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without
blemish or defect. 1 Peter 1:13-19
(NIV)
1 Therefore,
since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through
whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And
we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also
rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; 4 perseverance,
character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has
poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
10 Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God
so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,
against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore
put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be
able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)
BUTTER
“Steel
is iron plus fire. Soil is rock, plus
heat, or glacier crushing. Linen is flax
plus the bath that cleans, the comb that separates, and the flail that pounds,
and the shuttle that weaves. Human
character must have a plus attached to it.
The world does not forget great character. But great characters are not made of
luxuries, they are made by suffering….Someday, God is going to reveal the fact to every Christian, that
the very principles they now rebel against, have been the instruments which He
used in perfecting their characters and molding them into perfection, polished
stones for His great building yonder.” Cortland Myers
“Be
done with petty things. Be done with
small dreams. Give Me all that you have
and are; and I will share with you abundantly all that I have and all that I
am.” Frances
J. Roberts
“Former
Navy SEAL Michael Janke defines self-control as ‘the ability of the individual
to adhere to actions, thoughts, and behaviors that result in personal
improvement instead of instant gratification.’
He suggests that our ability to be self-managed casts a long shadow on
our children and grandchildren. When we
being to use self-discipline to control our emotional highs and lows, our
appearance, our work ethic, and our commitment to physical exercise, we are
providing an example and leaving a legacy for those who follow us….When we
detect an area in our lives needing mastery, the Lord’s grace is sufficient to
bring it under self-control as we walk in the Spirit and commit ourselves to
obedience. Peter tells us to make every
effort to add to our faith goodness, knowledge, and self-control (2 Peter
1:5-6).” Robert
J. Morgan
“Faith
is an activity; it is something that has to be applied.” Corrie
Ten Boom
“The
true, living faith, which the Holy Spirit instills into the heart, simply cannot
be idle.” Martin Luther
HEART SAVOR
·
God has
given me everything I need for Godliness – His power is made perfect in my
weakness.
·
I am to
prepare my mind for action and be self-controlled, adhering my actions towards Christlikeness
rather than self-gratification. Furthermore,
I am the most satisfied and gratified when I become less and less like Beth and
more and more like Jesus.
·
Faith is
not dormant rather active and must be applied.
