January 25, 2007

 

Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

 

--Philippians 1:27

 

Character is something you can’t fake or manufacture on the spot. We can try to cover up and act like someone we really aren’t, but it doesn’t work.  In fact, Jesus called the fake and pious masks that people wear hypocrisy.

 

I’ve been a pastor for over 35 years, and I’ve met many people who claimed to be righteous men and women of character. But the truth always comes out sooner or later, because life has a way of revealing what we really are on the inside.

 

That’s why if you’re a person of solid Christian character, your life will ring true. 

 

Have you ever wondered what happens to people who seem to have this very sudden fall from grace as they get caught up in sinful and immoral behavior? The truth is that the fall was probably not all that sudden. Instead, it was probably the culmination of a long line of small compromises that were made in secret before the problem ever became public knowledge.

 

That’s why personal character is such a big issue. One small compromise can lead to another, which in turn leads to another, and so on. Eventually, these small lapses in character turn into a full-fledged scandal.

 

Our lives are to make the Gospel of Jesus Christ attractive to others, and one of the best ways to do that is to exhibit true Christ-like character. This means we need to pay attention to how we live each day, since character is not something you can pick up quickly when you need it; it’s a way of life you develop and keep.

 

COMMIT TO BE A PERSON OF SOLID CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER!