CHARACTER CHARACTER

CHARACTER

Theme 02/09/2017 Admin

1 Samuel 1:19-20 Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah.... CHARACTER

1 Samuel 1:19-20

Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned and came to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.”

INSIGHT

-Character is written as shem in Hebrew & it means nature, image, likeness, figure, shape, personality, attribute, trait, quality & habit. Character can be defined as the commitment to a set of values & standards without compromise. It is also self-imposed discipline integrating words & deeds.

-Hannah was barren & often sorrowful because of her condition. She fasted & prayed for a son & promised to dedicate him to God once born. Despite their situation, Elkanah & Hannah worshipped the Lord & were blessed with a son Samuel; whose name means “God has heard” or “name of God”, in Hebrew. Samuel’s character reflected godly traits & he became great during his life time. He was the last of the ruling Hebrew judges & the first major prophet. He led the Israelites to war against Philistines & defeated them at Mizpah. He also anointed both king Saul & king David; kings of Israel. Samuel led a righteous life upholding the name of God as it was in his name. In our Christ-like nature we are also reminded to always share in His likeness & character.
PRAYER

We humbly implore You Father, God of the living, our God. We thank you for we have begun a new week in good health. We humbly implore You asking for mercy & pardon. We are Your sons Father, thank You for You always hear us. Help us to live a righteous life; that our character may represent Your true image. We glorify You Lord always. Amen

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:33-34

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

INSIGHT

-Apostle Paul reminds us that some friends assassinate our character influencing us into peer pressure, which affects our relationship with our families, friends, neighbours, society & God. The Holy Spirit through His fruit protects us from works of the flesh. These are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness & revelries (Gal 5:22-23), which give the offender a new brand name & change of identity. The quest to please people allows our hearts to be swayed into bad habits & lack of focus. Therefore, one has to make a firm personal decision to sacrifice some friends so as to protect the wise principles of God in our lives. Further, good character opens us up to integrity which is founded on the holiness of God & protects us from shame.

PRAYER

Holy Spirit our Helper, guide us in Your grace through the impartation of Your fruit to choose our friends wisely. May the same fruit mould our character so that we may heed to good morals. We know we have all sinned & fallen short of Your glory, have mercy on us & cleanse us from all iniquity. May our lives be focused on You instead of pleasing others. We praise You & glorify Your name now & forever. Amen

 

 

 

 

Ephesians 6:4
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
INSIGHT

-Just as children are commanded to honor their parent, parents are required to train their kids according to Gods word. The best training & guidance is dependent on what standards the parents set in their own lives as children most often take after their parents character. Parents should therefore be very carefully to act & talk in a desirable manner.  Jesus set the best example to us with His life & instructed us to be holy in all our conduct for He is holy (1 Pet 1:16).
PRAYER

Lord our Father, You called us to be holy. Strengthen us to abide by You as You abide in us in love. Help all the children to obey their parents & all parents to live a desirable life & set a good example led by Your counsel. May Your love shed all darkness from the family unit that Your joy may be evidenced in every households. Amen

 

 

 

Romans 5:3-4
but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
INSIGHT

-Tribulations come in our lives to remind us that we should give thanks in all things for we trust in God; with perfect knowledge that He can deliver us from any eventuality. By this, we hold fast our faith with endurance for the unseen victory. Stable character follows as we continue to experience Gods goodness & to know Him more intimately. Then our choices are inclined to His word for He will never leave us nor forsake us & hope of final glory with Him.
PRAYER

Lord our Father, we surrender our lives to You, help us. Without Your grace within us, our burden will lay on us, save us. Strengthen us to be able to bring every evil thought to captivity of Your word so that sin may not be named among us. Amen

 

 

 

 

Matthew 16:24-26

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

INSIGHT

-Jesus reminds us to depend on Him fully. Further that, each one has a cross to carry. The cross symbolises the sacrifices we offer daily for oneself, others & God. Unless we are selfless (die to self) in obedience & humility, then we fail in our assignment by seeking the world first & thus lose our soul. Jesus gave us a new commandment to love God & our neighbor by which we fulfil the law & share in His grace.

SUMMARY

-Character is written as shem in Hebrew & it means nature, image, likeness, figure, shape, personality, attribute, trait, quality & habit. It can be defined as the commitment to a set of values & standards without compromise. It is also self-imposed discipline integrating words & deeds.

-Samuel’s character reflected godly traits & he became great during his life time. His name in Hebrew means “God has heard” or “name of God”. He led a righteous life upholding the name of God as it was in his name. Since we are Christ-like & Gods children, we are also reminded to always share in His likeness & character. The same model applies to our children who look up to parents for provision & attributes. Apostle Paul mentions that parents should bring up their children in training & admonition of the Lord, not wrath. Since the opposite of wrath is peace, Paul advocates for the fear of the Lord in the household which results to peace. In the same fear, children grow, develop & will never depart from it. Parents should always remember that as much as God is watching them, their kids are learning from them & mature in the character exhibited. On the same wavelength, “evil character corrupts good habits”. Some friends assassinate our character & affect our relationship with family, friends, neighbours, society & God. The Holy Spirit through His fruit protects us from works of the flesh which give the offender a new brand name & identify. E.g. A person who lies is called a liar etc. The quest to please people allows our hearts to be swayed into bad habits & we eventually lack focus. Thus, one has to make a firm personal decision to sacrifice some friends so as to protect the wise principles of God in our lives. Further, good character opens us up to integrity which is founded on the holiness of God & protects us from shame. Jesus set the best example to us with His life & instructed us to be holy in all our conduct just as He is holy (1 Pet 1:16). Character is a process developed gradually over time by reading His word, prayer, watching & listening to positive vibes only. Following virtues of God, tribulations will come which call for perseverance; building up our character & hope in our final reward. This does not mean that we wait to develop character while laying on our death beds; but cultivate it & living by it as a stable man/woman who does not falter in word & deeds. It is only by His grace which is sufficient for all of us, that this can be achieved. Let us always remember to give thanks in all things, query all our thoughts in line with His word & hold fast our faith in Him so that we may experience His goodness as He has good plans for our lives.

PRAYER

Lord our Father, we thank You for Your everlasting love for us. We love You. You moulded us from the dust of the ground, mould our character as well in Your image & likeness. You are holy & have called us to be holy, help us we offer our lives entirely to You. Impart in us Your gifts, fruit & graces so that we may be aligned in Your good plans for us. All glory belong to You Lord. Amen

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