Bible says in Mt 19:12 that, “ For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”
Some people naturally have some character or talents that they were born with; others become who they are or acquire some characters or talents through their own efforts or what people force them to be. Then comes another group of people who become who they are because they decide to be so out of a desire to serve God.
Just as it is with footballers, there are players who have that natural talent that they were born with; some call them ‘natural footballers or born footballers’. Whatever you do, they will display that skill when they are given the opportunity on the field. Some players didn’t start as good footballers but became one through regular training and some too became footballers because they wanted to use it for a special purpose.
One’s personality is determined by his/her character, a behavioral consistency that easily identifies them at any given time. For instance, if you profess to be a Christian there are some characteristics that must manifest about you as you grow in the Lord.
Unfortunately, some Christians do not build themselves into that person or Christian who portrays the characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of God enjoins us to build a character that depicts Christ’s character when He was on earth. “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.” Hebrews 5:13
A person who doesn’t wean him or herself off milk remains a baby and is not skillful in word of righteousness. That person fails to exercise himself with meat that builds them into an adult capable of discerning between what is good and evil.
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil,” Heb 5:14.
Many Christians are being tossed from one place to another, one prophet to another because they haven’t taken time to exercise themselves into people capable of distinguishing between what is good or otherwise.
There are those who by reason of constant use of the Word of God build a strong character that enables them discern between good and evil. This requires a lot of spiritual exercise.
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1Timothy 4:7-8.
Physical exercise is very good because of the benefits we derive from it. Those who exercise a lot build a body system that resists some illnesses and endures some tough situations. They develop muscles that are very strong and rugged to withstand and endure some hurdles.
But spiritual exercise goes beyond that. It builds a person for this life and also for eternal life. The benefits of spiritual exercise are two-fold and should not be toyed with by any Christian at any time at all.
Spiritual exercise builds a Christian character that withstands all the wiles of the enemy and manifests their Christian character. A truly prayerful Christian has a character that withstands physical difficulties because the spiritual realm is above the physical.
The danger for any Christian who is spiritually inactive is that, spiritual inactivity kills. It is like ceasing to breathe.
Those who pray and study the word regularly build themselves a character that is indomitable. Christians with weak characters as a result of lack of spiritual exercise are the ones who murmur and complain a lot during challenging times because their spirit man is very weak and is grasping for breath.
A strong Christian character is seen in the way believers behave in times of temptation. “If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!,” Proverbs 24:10.
Those who get themselves spiritually active are strong enough to go through adversary. Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego stood their grounds before King Nebuchadnezzar when he asked them to bow before the image of gold. No matter the threat of fire, they stood firm because they had built a character that is so used to worshiping and being loyal to God that, there was no way anything could force them to do otherwise.
When you train a child in a way, they grow to become so used to that way of doing things that nothing can change them from it. The same way when we build our character in Christ, anything alien to Christ would give way.
That way, nothing can separate us from Him. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” Romans 8:35.
Unfortunately, many things, very trivial ones, are separating us from the love of Christ because we are not building a character in Him.
It is time we started building a strong Christian character through constant practice of the things that make us Christians-prayer, study of the word, fellowshipping, righteousness and holiness, among others.
If we fail, then we risk being separated and drifted away from Him into eternal damnation.
Build a strong Christian character.
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