My God and My Character

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.

Christian character is not something we are born with. It is acquired through time and experience with God in Christ, and no other way. Character is the reward added to us as we pursue our relationship with the Lord with determined focus and energy. It is the evidence of an ever-deepening dependence on Him and His grace. It is Christ living, speaking, and serving through us in real time and tangible ways. 

Peter shows us what character development looks like, and we simply cannot afford to treat his instructions as optional. Our Lord is coming back for a church without wrinkle or spot, and her members must be holy and prepared when He returns. This is the work we must do to be presentable to God, and no one can do the work for us — it is our reasonable service. 

You and I are to pursue Christian character through,

• virtue (moral excellence, integrity, chastity, uprightness)
• knowledge (intimacy, familiarity, closeness, certainty)
• self-control (sobriety, discipline, maturity)
• perseverance (determination, patience)
• godliness (Christlikeness),
• brotherly kindness (gentleness, winsomeness, helpfulness)
• love (possessing and reflecting God’s heart for all).

May the Lord bless and help you mightily on your journey to Christian character. 

Let’s Pray — Dear Father, thank You for Your patience and mercy on me as I grow into the image of Your Son. May Christ be glorified all along the way. Amen.