Character (Part 3): Rebelutionary, Meet Your Commander N’ Chief
How do we strengthen our character? What methods should we utilize in order to be men and women of integrity? There are few answers as fitting as this: become acquainted with Jesus Christ.
It is wonderful for us to understand and embrace doctrines of faith, grace, justification, and sanctification. They all provide strength to resist sin and a steady arm to help us back up when we fall. But it is much, much better to be familiar with Jesus Christ Himself, to see His face, and to catch a glimpse of His splendor. This, according the J.C. Ryle, “is one secret of eminent holiness.” If we wish to become stronger in resisting sin, what better way than to study Him “who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15)?
Here we are, lacking in strength, courage, and patience. Lacking the power to stand, to move forward, and to make a difference in our evil world. We find it so easy to conform to this world and so very difficult to go against the flow. We seem to fall back two steps for every one step we take forward and all our “firm” resolutions turn out short-lived and useless.
This is the beauty of Christ’s sufficiency! In Christ alone “all fullness dwells” (Col. 1:19)—in Him alone do we find all that we need to successfully combat sin. We are strong Christians only in proportion as we lean on Him. It is only when we stop hoping in our own strength and place all our confidence in Christ that we will accomplish great things.
To know Christ and the power of His resurrection is the true secret of spiritual strength. Then only are we armed for life’s battles. Then only are we ready to journey through life, and move forward. Then only will we overcome the world and cause change. “I can do all things,” says Paul, “through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).
Our own weakness highlights the power of Christ to strengthen our will! He promises “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9) Let us, as the Apostle Paul did, boast all the more gladly in our weaknesses so that the power of Christ might rest on us.
With this in mind what better way is there to fortify our character than to dwell on Jesus Christ? Yet how do we do that? Here are two ways:
1.) Read the Gospels: It would be so beneficial if Christians studied the four Gospels more than they do. Of course, all Scripture is profitable (2 Tim. 3:16), and I don’t mean to esteem the Gospels at the expense of other sections of Scripture. But it would be good for those who are very familiar with the Epistles to become more acquainted with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Why do I say this? Simply, because the Gospels were written that we might familiarize ourselves with Christ. Think about it for a minute, the Holy Spirit has told and retold the story of His life and death, the things that He said and the things that He did, four times over. Four different witnesses have drawn a picture of our Savior and our Helper. Four different inspired hands have communicated to us His ways, His manners, His feelings, His grace, His patience, His wisdom, His love, and His power. How can we ignore such an open invitation to study and internalize these attributes and qualities?
2.) Talk With Him: How many of us wonder that our relationship with Christ isn’t strong when we neglect to invest the time and effort necessary to any friendship? I would challenge you, pick your closest human friend and then imagine what would happen if you invested the same amount of time and effort into that relationship as you do in your relationship with Christ. Would you be just as close? Closer? Or would you barely see each other, barely talk to each other, and barely care that you weren’t? Think of it this way: closeness with Christ will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from getting close to Christ. You decide.
I would encourage you, don’t hesitate to run to Christ this day. He is “a friend that sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24), who understands your weaknesses and turns them into strengths. We must be consumed with Christ or we will be consumed with this world and by this world.
J.C. Ryle, “Holiness”
“Ought not the patient to be familiar with the Physician? Ought not the bride to be familiar with the Bridegroom? Ought not the sinner to be familiar with the Savior? Beyond doubt it ought to be so. Surely we cannot know this Christ too well! Surely there is not a word, nor a deed, nor a day, nor a step, nor a thought in the record of His life, which ought not to be precious to us.”
In Christ, Brett Harris
Note: I have kidnapped J.C. Ryle. By force I took him as my co-author, and together we wrote this post. I cannot more heartily recommend his writings—especially “Thoughts For Young Men” and “Holiness.” Furthermore, I’m probably not going to release him until we finish this section on Character. Finally, if you see Kris Lundgaard, author of “The Enemy Within,” please warn him that I plan to kidnap him as well. Ransom notes will be coming soon.
August 21st, 2005 at 4:49 pm
Hey Brett,
I heartly agree that reading the Gospels is a sure way to know our Comander N’ Chief. So many people think they know the Gospels because they are the same thing…Jesus was born,he did lots of miracles, died, and rose again. There is so much more to them than that (altough that is important). They give an inside look to what Jesus was like and how He treated and loved people. How He showed His grace His serventhood and His obediance towards His Father in Heaven. This is important to know to walk and learn in Christs ways. Phillipians 2:5 says “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”
God Bless,
Lauren
August 21st, 2005 at 5:34 pm
I have been trying to find something I disagree with, in this blog but I can’t find anything
You have been giving me much food for thought. Keep it coming!
Grace
April 11th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
I can’t tell you how much this post meant to me. Last night I prayed about how I wanted to live for Jesus more and desired strength, but I had now idea how. I actually used the words “i feel as if I’m taking two steps forward, and one step back each day.”
I truly believe the Lord used you to talk to me today. Thank you so much, and God Bless.
April 11th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Thank you again guys! What you have written here has been very much on my heart these past few days. May the Lord bless you for your desire for Him!
Oh… btw - We seem to be living in the past…. “Originally posted on August 19th, 2006″… heh
April 11th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
originally posted August 19th, 2006??
Can you say, “Sneak Peek.”??
What about “typo”?
Still eagerly awaiting your call Alex!
God Bless!
April 11th, 2006 at 8:15 pm
“Here we are, lacking in strength, courage, and patience. Lacking the power to stand, to move forward, and to make a difference in our evil world. We find it so easy to conform to this world and so very difficult to go against the flow. We seem to fall back two steps for every one step we take forward and all our firm resolutions turn out short-lived and useless.”
I do not entirely agree with this. We arn’t necessarily called to rebel against culture, neither are we to be of the world. Yeah - it’s one of those love/hate things. We’re in the world, but our citizenship is in heaven. We have desires and dreams like people of this world, but our eternal destination is different.
And there is another case for argument. Who am I to judge a Catholic? Do they not believe that Jesus died and rose for the forgiveness of our sins? In what ways do I myself stray away from the point of the passage just like the worshiping of icons is (according to Reformed thought from what I understand) a disfiguration of the entire God-experience? We all got our falts. I’m not entirely sure of what mine are, but I think a biggie is pride.
Your previous post reads:
“Remember, the time is coming where it will become more and more difficult to avoid sin and more and more necessary to develop the strength of character to resist it, fight it, and conquer it.
The landscape is changing rapidly. We must turn to God and plead with Him to grant us the grace to strengthen our character now, before its too late.”
These percieved evils arn’t really the end of the world. I have to agree with a RL friend of mine: the legalization of homosexual marriage won’t be the end of American society as we know it. Just because the evil passes as acceptable in society doesn’t mean we Christians have lost the fight. We have God on our side, like you say.
That’s my response, though. I can see that you may have been going for… seeking after God’s help in the sense of tolerance and understanding of other worldviews, or something? Or am I missing something?
But don’t get me wrong, Alex. Your writing makes me think about my life in perspective. I guess it’s good that I don’t entirely agree with you, because if I did then I think that means I’m brainwashed.
April 11th, 2006 at 10:53 pm
You guys always make me think about things in a way I haven’t in the past. This is a good post to keep in mind when you think you’re stumbling with your faith.
April 12th, 2006 at 2:36 am
“It would be so beneficial if Christians studied the four Gospels more than they do.”
This is very true, I believe, for everyone. Especially with Easter fast approaching.
Great post!
April 12th, 2006 at 4:12 am
I’m so happy you posted this! It was a much needed reminder in my walk and relationship with Jesus. God bless!
April 12th, 2006 at 4:38 am
That was a very encouraging post. Thank you!
April 13th, 2006 at 1:25 am
One thing that rings Truth in seeing Christ face to face is that we can not see ourselves in any other way than “in need of Him”. When you find out who you really are in Light of Him, and then find that His whole desire is towards you, it is so earth-shattering. So humbling.
True Humility is, I think, the best armor against the enemy because it puts us in the proper position and perspective. True Humility only comes through relationship.
Great post guys.
April 13th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
Thank you for the reminder! Friendships do take time, and our relationship with God should take more of our concentration than anything else. That is the challenge.
April 22nd, 2006 at 11:21 pm
It’s true. The main thing to do is once you are familiar with Jesus and His teachings, to BELIEVE them, not just believe in the idea of their reality. I think that’s why there’s such widespread unhappiness among Christians and non-Christians alike today–no one actually believes. If we trust in Christ’s power and mercy, and we truly believe that He is the Christ, nothing can stop us because through our intercession, we can change the world. Remember, we can never lose the fight–God will come in glory at the end of time and raise the dead and judge the world. We must pray for mercy on the world.