Christian Character

Christian character is something extremely powerful. Forged by the Spirit of God in the lives of believers, it is responsible for the attitudes that mark the era throughout the 2000 years.

In our generation this is a subject that needs to be worked on a lot. This happens due to the large number of people who say they are Christians, but they show a testimony of life that is not compatible with their confession of faith. They are passionate about the world, have pleasure in sin and do not honor God with their way of life.

What is Christian Character?

Character is a set of characteristics and features related to the way an individual or group acts and reacts. It is a moral fact. It is the firmness and coherence of attitudes ".

Christian character develops in us through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3,5). It's God at work, not us. However, closeness to the Scriptures and prayer are the way to this process.

Next we will see some examples of Christian character that can help us in the struggles of the day to day.

Christian Character: Abraham the Peacemaker

Then Abram said to Lot, "There is no disagreement between me and you, or between your shepherds and mine, at last we are brothers! There is the whole earth before you, let us separate ourselves! If you go to the left, I will go to the right, if it goes to the right, I will go to the left (Genesis 13: 8,9)

The Patriarch Abraham had a peaceful and full of faith as Barnabas. When the discussion between Lot's pastors and his own occurred, Abraham gave Lot the primacy of choice to avoid conflict.

Looking around, Lot saw the Bells of Sodom and Gomorrah: green, well-watered, and as any farmer was attracted to those lands.

However, better covenant with God than any earthly advantage. Abraham stayed with the barren, dry land of Canan. But its great advantage was to have preserved a deep alliance with God.

The Lord spoke to Abraham and said, "Where are you? Look north, south, east and west: all the land you see will be given to you and your descendants forever." (Genesis 13: 14,15)

Later, when the Hebrews are making the journey: Egypt - Canaan, Moses sends spies to Canaan to see what the land the Lord had promised them was like.

"When they came to the valley, they cut a branch from which hung a single bunch of grapes, two of them loaded the bunch, hung on a stick, and took grenades and figs and gave the following report to Moses:" We entered the land to the one who sent us, where milk and honey flow! Here are some fruits of it. (Numbers 23,27)

Do not be carried away by anger when you are affronted. When they want to take advantage of you. Do like Abraham, give the right to choose and develop a deep relationship with God. It is true that He has the best for you even though your eyes do not realize it.

Christian Character: Daniel and Honest Purity

Daniel, however, decided not to become impure with the king's food and wine, and asked the chief officer for permission to abstain from them. And God made man kind to Daniel and there was sympathy for him. (Daniel 1: 8,9)

Thousands of young Jews were taken to Babylon as slaves. Upon arriving at the new home they faced an extremely sinful culture, perverse and without fear of the Lord. Then the menu was determined: the same food that the king ate (Daniel 1.5). The problem?

The Jewish menu is extremely restrictive. There were a number of elements that made an impure Jew and food was one of them. The attitude of Daniel and his friends? "We are not going to contaminate ourselves!" Their menu was just vegetables.

The attitude of Daniel and his friends pleased God, and they were honored. By the end of the three years of preparation they were healthier and ten times smarter than all their competitors.

Christian character: Ezra, He who loves the Word

On the first day of the first month he left Babylon, and arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, because the good hand of his God was upon him. Because Ezra had decided to devote himself to study the Law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach his decrees and commandments to the Israelites. (Ezra 7: 9,10)

We seek to attract God's attention in many ways and most of them are flaws. The confusion of the Samaritan woman is legitimate: "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but Jews say that Jerusalem is the place where we must worship." (John 4.20).

Even being in Christ we always look for the right side. How to love? Should I raise my hands or not? Should I cry or not? Should I not glorify out loud? Should I speak in other languages?

The response of Jesus Christ and the attitude of Esdra converge on this point: both to the scriptures.

Ezra decided not only to know the Word of God, but also to practice and teach it. The consequence? "The good hand of his God was upon him."

Seek to approach like this and you will reap the same fruits. Stop drinking from other sources, they will continue to keep you thirsty. The Bible has the answers you need.

Christian Character: Nehemiah The One Who Matters

When I heard these things, I sat down and I cried. I spent days lamenting, fasting and praying to the God of heaven. Then I said: Lord, God of heaven, great and fearful God, faithful to the covenant and merciful to those who love you and obey your commandments, may your ears be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer that your servant is Doing day and night before you on behalf of your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins that we, the Israelites, have committed against you. Yes, I and my people have sinned against you. (Nehemiah 1: 4-6)

Nehemiah lived comfortably in the palace and had a position of prominence, he was the king's cupbearer. But he also lived as a captive, outside of Jerusalem. Whenever one of his patricians appeared, he sought news from his town and his city.

One day, the news was not so good: "Those who survived the captivity and are there in the province, are subjected to great suffering and humiliation. The wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and its gates were destroyed by fire "(Nehemiah 1: 3).

Nehemiah fell in tears. He spent several days crying, lamenting and fasting. But as the only cry that does not resolve he prayed to the Lord and asked for help to rebuild the city. He dedicated about four months to that task, in the end the king who never saw Nehemiah with a sad face asked:

"Why does your face look so sad, if you are not sick? That sadness can only be from the heart!" With great fear, I said to the king: "May the king live forever! face, if the city in which they are buried my parents is in ruins, and its doors were destroyed by fire? "The king said to me:" What would you like to ask? "Then I prayed to the God of heaven ... (Nehemiah 2: 2-4)

Nehemiah asked the king for all that was necessary for the first stage of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and because the good hand of the Lord God was upon him, his wish was granted.

Many people in times of calamity: they lament, they cry and they remain only in that. But only that does not solve. Nehemiah gives us a Christian lesson by importing with his people, with their welfare to the detriment of their own.

Nehemiah abandoned his comfort and security at the king's side to try to be useful and bless the people he loved.

Christian Character: The Humility of Jesus

Let your attitude be the same as that of Jesus Christ, who, although he was God, did not consider that being equal to God was something to which he should adhere; but he emptied himself, becoming a servant, becoming like men. And, being found in human form, he humbled himself and was obedient to death, and death on a cross! (Philippians 2: 5-8)

Jesus is certainly the greatest example we have to follow. He is our supreme compass in the troubled sea of ​​life. The apostle Paul advises us to seek the same feeling, so that there is in us what has been in him. Why?

"Although being God, he did not consider that being equal to God was something to which he should adhere ..."

Jesus did not allow his divinity to make him distant, on the contrary he did not consider it. He emptied. He demonstrates this in at least three moments:

• In Gethsemane;

• On the cross;

• In the resurrection.

May the Holy Spirit develop in us that same posture, the same feeling, so that we are similar to him in everything.

Christian character is the fruit of the Holy Spirit who acts in our lives. It is the contact with the Word of God that is shaping us and generating in us the characteristics of Christ.

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