Resources/Articles
Building Character
As children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of our ignorance; but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living.
1 Pet. 1:14,15
The only way to make life great is to apply great principles. God gives His grace and supplies His Spirit so we might transform our lives into “vessels of honor” rather than “vessels of dishonor” (2 Tim. 2:21). God gives us the tools so we might fashion a holy life.
A holy character is not accomplished by magic. Each man must work long and hard and repeat his efforts again and again to build up a character like God’s. Do we have that kind of patience? Many of us feel we do not have that much time. Temples were not built in a day. Highways are not constructed in a week. Babies take months to be born. Our character takes time to develop and is formed by proper thinking and actions. The repetition of those thoughts and actions become habits, which, consequently, form our character.
To build character, sacrifice will become a painful ingredient. Peter mentioned “former lusts” had previously formed their character. Lust involves self-will and self-satisfaction. It is this type of character we must kick against. We will have to fight against a character we have already formed. It is like taking an old piece of metal and putting it into a melting pot so that it can be poured into a new mold. Throwing away what you have spent months and years doing will be painful, but it is a must when trying to build a character that shows respect for God and self.
Consider what dictates your actions now and the character you have already formed. To whom are you listening? What directs your life? Peter says, “He who called you is holy.” If the “Caller” is holy, does it not stand to reason why we are commanded to build a holy character? If God is calling each of us to fashion a higher character, surely it can be accomplished. God never summons us to duty without giving us the power to perform. “For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).
Set your heart on a character that is formed by the will of God (Rom. 12:2). It does not come from a magic potion. It is achieved by simple obedience and a rejection of “former lusts”. Approach the prospect of character with steadfastness. “Pass the time of your sojourning in fear” (v. 17).
