Character
We have all heard the definition of character that says character is what you do when no one else is around to see what you are doing. There is a lot of truth and insight in that definition. Character is doing what is right no matter if anyone knows or not.
So, how is character developed? Does it just happen, or is it the result of something in our lives? I am sure it doesn't just happen. We all make choices that lead us to have a certain type of character, whether it is good or bad. First of all, we all have the choice of what we will allow our minds to dwell upon. Now, I know children are at a disadvantage, because they are subject to the leadership and provision of their parents. However, as we learn right and wrong; good and bad, we all have to decide if we will choose good or bad things on which to set our minds. Also, we all have feelings. If we dwell on the fleshly feelings, instead of allowing the Lord to shape our feelings by His Spirit, we will be led by those feelings to act in terrible ways that are very destructive. Thus, what we think and what we feel shapes our character. Once we think and feel in certain ways for long enough, we develop habits, and those habits are our character.
Therefore, it is almost impossible to have a strong truthful character that promotes responsibility and honest work without the influence of the Holy Spirit. We only have the Holy Spirit when we come to know Christ, so trusting Christ is the foundation of good character development. This is the reason we see so many examples of children who grow up with Christian parents who have a strong moral character, but the children do not follow in their footsteps. The children never come to know the Lord Jesus, so their thoughts and feelings lead them away from what their parents have tried to instill in them. On the other hand, when a child is raised in a strong Christian home with good character being displayed, they learn the right values, so that once they come to know Christ, they have a head start. This is why we must put the emphasis on bringing people to know Jesus and not just trying to teach them the right things to do. They need character, not just information.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 39-42.
So, how is character developed? Does it just happen, or is it the result of something in our lives? I am sure it doesn't just happen. We all make choices that lead us to have a certain type of character, whether it is good or bad. First of all, we all have the choice of what we will allow our minds to dwell upon. Now, I know children are at a disadvantage, because they are subject to the leadership and provision of their parents. However, as we learn right and wrong; good and bad, we all have to decide if we will choose good or bad things on which to set our minds. Also, we all have feelings. If we dwell on the fleshly feelings, instead of allowing the Lord to shape our feelings by His Spirit, we will be led by those feelings to act in terrible ways that are very destructive. Thus, what we think and what we feel shapes our character. Once we think and feel in certain ways for long enough, we develop habits, and those habits are our character.
Therefore, it is almost impossible to have a strong truthful character that promotes responsibility and honest work without the influence of the Holy Spirit. We only have the Holy Spirit when we come to know Christ, so trusting Christ is the foundation of good character development. This is the reason we see so many examples of children who grow up with Christian parents who have a strong moral character, but the children do not follow in their footsteps. The children never come to know the Lord Jesus, so their thoughts and feelings lead them away from what their parents have tried to instill in them. On the other hand, when a child is raised in a strong Christian home with good character being displayed, they learn the right values, so that once they come to know Christ, they have a head start. This is why we must put the emphasis on bringing people to know Jesus and not just trying to teach them the right things to do. They need character, not just information.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Isaiah 39-42.