Developing Christian Characterናሙና

So abandon every form of evil, deceit, hypocrisy, feelings of jealousy and slander. In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life

—1 Peter 2:1-2 TPT

We saw yesterday that strength is found in accepting that we need change. Our culture exalts stubbornness and calls it standing on your own truth. As believers we ought not to be like that. God often uses others to correct us and set us aright.

Having understood that we must lay aside ungodly practices, it becomes highly imperative that we must turn to what can change us. A lot of people have accepted they need to be morally excellent; they have passed the first stage. They have admitted their wrong but they are frustrated because they don't know how to change. It feels like a wild goose chase and a pointless attempt. Thankfully, the Bible gives us a knowledge of how to change and become better Christians. The transformation tool is the Word of God. The transformation agent is the Holy Spirit. We can't change ourselves but we can allow the Holy Ghost to change us as we embrace the word of God. The word of God is what the Holy Ghost uses to change us inside out.

Apostle Paul tells Timothy to stick with the word of God because it is the transformation tool that the Holy Ghost uses to correct us, instruct us, and teach us how to live. To neglect the word of God is to neglect a chance to be helped by the Holy Ghost. Through the word, the Holy Spirit can bridle your tongue, caution your superfluous attitude, deal with your greediness, and set you on the right path.

Peter urges us to intensely crave for the word of God so that we can mature. One of the proofs of spiritual maturity is character and moral excellence. Character is the fruit of our lives. Just the way only matured trees bear fruit, also only matured Christians express good character. Our spiritual growth is tied to our intense focus on the word of God, which ultimately produces the fruit of godly character in us.