Character is\ndefined as strength of conviction. A person with conviction is convinced that\nsomething is true and stands on that assertion, regardless of the situation and\nregardless of the consequences. Personal convictions reveal who a person is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A person\u2019s\ncharacter is the sum of his or her disposition, thoughts, intentions, desires,\nand actions. It is good to remember that character is gauged by general tendencies,\nnot on the basis of a few isolated actions. We must look at the whole life. For\nexample, King David was a man of good character (1 Samuel 13:14<\/strong>) although he sinned\non occasion (2\nSamuel 11<\/strong>). And although King Ahab may have acted nobly once (1 Kings 22:35<\/strong>),\nhe was still a man of overall bad character (1 Kings 16:33<\/strong>). Several people in\nthe Bible are described as having noble character: Ruth (Ruth 3:11<\/strong>), Hanani (Nehemiah 7:2<\/strong>),\nDavid (Psalm\n78:72<\/strong>), and Job (Job 2:3<\/strong>). These individuals\u2019 lives were distinguished\nby persistent God-centered conviction and character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christians\nare a chosen people, belonging to God so that we may declare His praises: \u201cBut you are a\nchosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own\npossession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of\ndarkness into his marvelous light<\/strong>\u201d (1 Peter 2:9<\/strong>). To \u201cdeclare His praises<\/strong>,\u201d\nthen, it is essential that we spend time in His Word. We use the Bible as our touchstone: what the\nBible promotes, we should have the same personal conviction. What the Bible forbids, we should have a\npersonal conviction against. In this way, the Word of God informs our\nconscience and is a light to our path (Psalm 119:105<\/strong>). Personal convictions should never\nbe based solely on what we \u201cfeel\u201d about a matter: \u201cThose who trust in themselves are fools, but\nthose who walk in wisdom are kept safe<\/strong>\u201d (Proverbs 28:26<\/strong>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Character is\ninfluenced and developed by our choices, influenced by our convictions. Daniel\n\u201cresolved not to\ndefile himself<\/strong>\u201d in Babylon (Daniel 1:8<\/strong>), and that godly choice was an\nimportant step in formulating an unassailable integrity in the young man\u2019s life\nconfirming, \u201cThe\nintegrity of the upright guides them<\/strong>\u201d (Proverbs 11:3a<\/strong>), helping us weather\nthe storms of life and keep us from sin (Proverbs 10:9a<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is the\nLord\u2019s purpose to develop character within us: \u201cThe crucible for silver and the furnace for\ngold, but the LORD tests the heart<\/strong>\u201d (Proverbs 17:3<\/strong>). Godly character is\nthe result of the Holy Spirit\u2019s work resulting in a consistent manifestation of\nJesus in our lives. Christians are \u201cGod\u2019s workmanship,\ncreated in Christ Jesus to do good works<\/strong>\u201d (Ephesians 2:10<\/strong>) epitomizing the\nbehavior that glorifies God, makes Christ real to others, all a result of\nChrist-centered convictions and character. Indeed, \u201cthe eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen\nthose whose hearts are fully committed to Him<\/strong>\u201d (2 Chronicles 16:9<\/strong>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is the\npurity of heart that God gives becoming purity in action. God sometimes uses\ntrials to strengthen character: \u201cwe also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that\nsuffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope<\/strong>\u201d\n(Romans 5:3-4<\/strong>).\nThe Lord is pleased when His children grow in character: \u201cYou test the heart and are pleased with\nintegrity<\/strong>\u201d (1 Chronicles 29:17<\/strong>; see also Psalm 15:1-2<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n We enhance\nGodly character by controlling our thoughts (Philippians 4:8<\/strong>); practicing\nChristian virtues (2 Peter 1:5-6<\/strong>); guarding our hearts (Proverbs 4:23<\/strong>;\nMatthew 15:18-20<\/strong>);\nkeeping good company (1 Corinthians 15:33<\/strong>); setting a good example, our\ngodly reputation evident to all (Titus 2:7-8<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\n\u201cactions\u201d that glorify our Father are those that bear much fruit (John 15:8<\/strong>),\ndirectly correlated to Godly convictions and character. Indeed, the fruit of\nthe Spirit\u2014love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,\ngentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23<\/strong>)\u2014the hallmarks of Christian\nbehavior, prove timeless convictions regardless of circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part of\nmaturity is having enough personal conviction to recognize and withstand the\nfalse teachings of the day. A person\nwith personal convictions has thought through the issues and lives with purpose.\nSuch people are sure of what they believe, and they are convinced of the things\nthat matter most, not at all and those proving completely false (Ephesians 4:14<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n All issues\nare addressed in the guiding convictions of the Word (2 Timothy 3:16\u201317<\/strong>;\nJames 1:5<\/strong>).\nThe Bible does not mention abortion, per se, but it does speak clearly about\nmatters such as murder and the protection of the innocent. When we study and\nsubmit to the Word of God, we learn what God says is right or wrong (Hebrews 5:14<\/strong>).\nAs we mature in wisdom and judgment, our personal convictions will align with\nthose things that are excellent to God (Philippians 1:9\u201311<\/strong>; Romans 12:1\u20132<\/strong>).\n\nPaul urged the Romans to \u201coffer your bodies as living sacrifices<\/strong>\u201d\n(Romans 12:2<\/strong>).\nThis is the essence of true Christian character \u2013 surrendering our hearts and\nyielding our bodies to Christ so He might continue God\u2019s work through us. As He was dying on the cross, Christ looked\nout at His executioners and asked His Father to forgive them (Luke 23:34<\/strong>).\nJesus was doing more than fulfilling prophecy and making \u201cintercession for the transgressors<\/strong>\u201d\n(Isaiah 53:12<\/strong>),\nHe was practicing the convictions of His character (Luke 6:27-28<\/strong>). \u201cGo and do likewise<\/strong>\u201d (Luke 10:37<\/strong>).\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Character is defined as strength of conviction. A person with conviction is convinced that something is true and stands on that assertion, regardless of the situation and regardless of the consequences. Personal convictions reveal who a person is. A person\u2019s character is the sum of his or her disposition, thoughts, intentions, desires, and actions. It […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[524],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n