Developing Christian Characterনমুনা

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

Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.

In 1 Peter 2:1-2, we see our part revealed in a sublime form. If we are to build a good character, the first thing to do intentionally is to lay aside every form of evil. We are to account ungodly practices as evil. Some people don't account some evil as evil but give it a more soothing description. For instance a hot tempered person could call it holy anger, or a greedy person could say that they are not greedy but only want good things of life, or a deceitful person could say they are just being wise and smart, and the list is endless. If we are going to change we have to own up to the fact that our conduct is wrong and in need of a change. Those who try to defend their weakness never find strength. The Apostle Peter calls us to lay aside every evil, but we can't lay aside what we sugar coat as good. Transformation starts with identifying that we need to change and become better. This is why those who hate correction do so to 'their own destruction. Wisdom is shown in being able to accept correction and seek for transformation.