“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Eph 4:3 (NIV)
Reputation is based on how others perceive you. Character is what you are in private. Character is revealed in crisis. Or another way to say it is that crisis reveals character.
Unity flows out of the character of Christ being developed in the life of a believer. God uses every circumstance and situation to build Christ’s character in us. Christlikeness is a process.
- “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29 (NIV)
- “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)
- “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'” 1 Cor 15:33 (NIV)
God works to conform us into the likeness of Christ. God allows us to experience suffering which is vital in forming the character of Christ in us. God sprinkles godly people into our lives to model Christlikeness as well. Then there are times when we make poor decisions concerning the people we allow to influence our lives. The Bible calls them “bad company.”
Are you allowing God to have His way in your life? Do you view suffering from God’s perspective? What kind of people are you being influenced by? Is the character of Christ being formed in you?
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care