Working on character development
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What purpose does it serve, to work on character development?
Is it that, we are still trying to make it to heaven?
John 3 (v. 18) He who believes in Him is not condemned....
So then, why should we be working on character development?
The “reward” is not just an entrance to heaven, it is an accumulation of many things that are given to you; because of your persistent effort and christian commitment at building your character to the divine similitude!!
Will you become acquainted with Jesus Christ? He is your best Friend. Educate your children to become acquainted with Jesus. In their very youth is the time to impress this lesson upon them. How much time are you spending in this work? ....Now I know something about that door that no man can open or shut.[1]
I know as I come to God and offer my prayer, as [did] Christ upon the banks of Jordan, that I will have the blessing of God resting upon me. I know something of this world, and although Satan may thrust his temptations into my mind, I look beyond to One who is mighty to save, and He says, "I know thy works." Every effort we make to bless humanity around us is recognized in heaven.[1]
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What is this effort that is involved here, on “our” part?
Your persistent effort at forging out TIME, from your schedule for God.
Matt 14 (v. 23) ....He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. And when evening had come, He was alone there.
The more time that you set aside for Him, earnestly seeking a relationship; then the more fully that Christ can re-produce his character in you.
See what “spending time” with God can do for you!!
(Click on the PDF below to see)
The harvest of life is character, and it is this that determines destiny, both for this life and for the life to come. The harvest is a reproduction of the seed sown. Every seed yields fruit after its kind. So it is with the traits of character we cherish. Selfishness, self-love, self-esteem, self-indulgence, reproduce themselves, and the end is wretchedness and ruin.[2]
It is in appearance, not in reality, that evil succeeds....By the laws of God in nature....there can be no deception....The reaping testifies to the sowing....On the unfaithful husbandman the harvest passes sentence of condemnation. And in the highest sense this is true also in the spiritual realm.[2]
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John 14 (v. 10) ....the Father who dwells in Me does the works. (v. 11) Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me....
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John 15 (v. 4) Abide in Me, and I in you.... (v. 5) ....He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
In fact, your good works are the evidence and “proof,” that you are abiding in Christ!
These good works, are in direct proportion to your level of maturity as a christian, because of your “effort” at seeking a relationship with Jesus.
Truth comes from Heaven to purify and cleanse the human agent from every moral defilement. It leads to benevolent action, to kind, tender, thoughtful love toward the needy, the distressed, and the suffering. This is practical obedience to the words of Christ.[3]
So, practical obedience to the words of Christ, leads to benevolent action, towards the distressed and the suffering.
Webster’s Dictionary:
Benevolent— marked by doing good, organized for the purpose of doing good
What should we do to get started on this?
You can start by praying everyday for an extended period of time, with the help of a “prayer outline”, until the Lord shows you what to do! ….or just start using your spiritual gifts, since that is what you love to do!
>>>>> To read about and to discover what your spiritual gifts are, click on this link. <<<<<
Did you know, that when you pay the tithe and offering, you are actually “purging” out selfishness from your character?
And when you are helping people, through a ministry, you are developing “empathy” for others.
Webster’s Dictionary:
Empathy— the action of understanding, being sensitive to, the feelings and experiences of another person
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Doing good works for other people, starts to develop your own character!
And it is not about you, doing some work grudgingly; we are talking about the gifts that the Spirit, distributes to each one of us.
I Cor 12 (v. 11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
These works are accumulated, because you have allowed Christ to re-produce His character in you, and then “good” works just pour out of you.
These works don’t save you, but rather contribute to your reward in heaven.
Then, our reward is given to us, through Sanctification, because of our effort towards the result of christian commitment in character development, which is our Fitness for heaven.
On the next webapge, we are going to look a little closer at the details about: What is involved in our Fitness for heaven?
References:
1. Manuscript Releases (vol.9) "Preparing for Heaven," p.261, par.4
2. Education “Lessons of Life” p.108-109, par.2
3. Selected Messages (book 3), p.198, par.5
Image #1: Erwin Lutzer, (n.d.). God has a program of character development. Retrieved from https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sb-Z1xuyjfoHXrQWCLDD1EA142Yd3u9LUKUxjpxMFIgAsTFP9-Zu-w5obdIBHy_Vt69-=s85
Image #2: Gods Hot Spot, (2014). Time in Jesus hands. Retrieved from https://godshotspot.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/my-time-in-jesus-hands/
Image #3: Author Unknown, (n.d.). We are created and saved to become like Christ. Retrieved from https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Yrt_dPjFlmcX6pP1Lh5YNkMs8EF8QmBMDOiIqlqJjCCLKpR9Y-lmKXzYk6Tt3X6S6yEqgQ=s114
Image #4: Rick Warren, (n.d.). Gods ultimate goal for your life is character development. Retrieved from https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s0hyfdyCXKCxUQm6ziaWL-SwRab061Kg9DBwk5BuGpV_xPpkmaJhDlhkdFWr3JFDVhyEZE=s140
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