Just Jesus, coffee, a Bible & me

Sitting in my patio chair, drinking coffee and studying my Bible, I’ve been thinking a lot about character. In particular, Christian character.

What is character? More specifically, what are the key elements of Christian character ?

Your character consists of the sum total of all the qualities that distinguish you from someone else. Generally speaking, when we refer to someone’s character we are defining what makes them a person of a certain moral fiber. You can be a person of high moral standards or someone lacking morals, thus lacking in character.

What then are the qualities of someone with a strong Christian character?

---

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

2 Peter 1:5-9 (New Living Translation)

---

I believe it is imperative that a godly believer is able to discern right from wrong. Otherwise, we will stand for nothing and fall for anything. Scripture not only exhorts us to live godly lives but equips us with the knowledge we need to be people of good and right character.

When I think about the attributes distinguishing someone of a strong Christian character from people of low character, humility first comes to mind. What is humility? I believe C.S. Lewis put it best when he said that humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. Pride—the antecedent of humility—puts me first. Humility, however, reminds me of the grace we all need to live a life pleasing to the Lord. Humility causes me to think of others needs, not just my own. It also acknowledges the submission of my will to God. In all things, I seek His will first.

---

Digging this post? You might also like reading one of my previous posts: More of Him. Less of me. #bgbg2

---

Other traits that come to mind when I think of people who I consider to exhibit strong Christian character include kindness, gentleness, and prayerfulness. In addition to being kind, gentle, and prayerful, I think people of godly character are also people who love others well and love God with their everythingness.

---

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less

C.S. Lewis

---

How about you? What traits mark someone who exhibits a strong Christian character?

May the rest of your week be a blessing. Thank you for taking time to read my blog. I welcome your comments, as well as your thumbs up, if you were blessed by spending time on The Devotional Guy™ blog.

May the Lord shower you with His favor. Be strong and courageous. 

Love in Christ,

The Devotional Guy™

#bgbg2 #BibleGateway

To experience life the way God intended, you and I must receive God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. This gift from God is available to all who ask. Will you personally receive the gift of eternal life so that you can experience the total forgiveness from your sins that come through believing in the atoning death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?