For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue… – 2 Peter 1:5 (ESV)
I like the way New Living Translation puts it, “…Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence…” While the Message replaces virtue with good character.
“Moral excellence” or “virtue” simply means the act or quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. It refers to strength of character which often requires courage and energy.
This important characteristic of our Christian growth should characterise us everywhere and in everything we do. Moral excellence speaks of our values, attitudes, priorities, goals or purposes, and Christlikeness in the home, workplace, and church.
We live in a world that is increasingly humanistic in nature. The Christian life is that of battle, where the Spirit constantly war against the flesh. Christians in the corporate world sometimes will battle between balancing the need to maximise profit and the need to be ethical in their decision making and operation.
“Beware, those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter. Beware, those who think they are wise, those who think they possess understanding…They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff, they ignore the just cause of the innocent.” Isaiah 5:20-23 (NET)
Being a Christian doesn’t automatically mean we possess or display good character. I know because, I’ve acted out of impulse on many occasions and looking back, I cringe at how I had behaved!
Displaying or exhibiting the qualities of moral excellence is not easy. No wonder we are encouraged to make every effort to ensure that we’re intentional about living a virtuous life.
Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
If Christians come across as rude, unreliable, lazy, untrustworthy and gossippers to mention a few, our light is not shining, and we are not giving glory to God. What gospel are we preaching to the unsaved if our behaviour mirrors theirs?
The followers of Jesus in Antioch must have exhibited some qualities of Christ to be called Christians (Acts 11:26), although the scripture doesn’t particularly say that. We are expected to exhibit Christ in everything we do. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV)
I’m not sure how familiar we are with the phrase: “What Would Jesus Do – (WWJD)” it was coined decades ago by an American minister. It’s a way of reminding Christians to act like Jesus no matter where they are or the circumstances.
Jesus needs to be at the forefront of our minds daily with an intention to glorify Him. We will not always get it right and that’s fine because we are human after all. But we need to desire to do better, hand over our weaknesses to God and trust Him to help us live our life for Him.
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 