Displaying the Greatness of God in Your LifeParaugs

Let’s face it. Virtues are not natural to us. Even if Christian values control us, it is possible to live out our values in the wrong way. This was unfortunately illustrated by a missionary who taught Christianity in Southern India. Reviewing what the students were supposed to know, he asked, “Why did Jesus come to the earth?” When they hesitated, he repeated the question, walking up and down the aisle hitting each child with a ruler on the head, yelling, “Love, love, love! That’s why Jesus came into the world!” The teacher was certainly controlled by values. But virtue was tragically missing. His teaching methods spoke more loudly to his students than the content of his lessons.

Because virtues are infused from outside ourselves, they cannot be self-generated. We need conversion before transformation. Further, we receive the facility for biblical values and capacity for Christlike virtues at salvation. At that point, for the first time, there is the possibility that biblical values and Christlike virtues can be accomplished intentionally. Just as our pursuit of God as our ultra-value is intentional, the practice of Christian virtues takes spiritual deliberation. Before we knew Christ, we couldn’t accomplish virtue even if we wanted to; with Christ, virtue becomes personally possible.

What Christlike virtues should accompany biblical values for accomplishing His prescriptions governing personal, family, and work life? Let’s look at the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5).

You have already encountered the “What? So What? and Now What?” study approach in our devotional series. Use these questions now to discover what God is asking of you and how you might apply the fruit of the Spirit in the three primary segments of your life—to the glory of God.

Our mission directives are quite clear. However, we do not possess the power for these missions, nor the ability to fulfill them in the right way. This shows us our need for a vital spiritual fellowship with God in all aspects—heart, soul, mind, and strength. God’s commands provide the outworking of our missions, God’s character shows the manner in which our mission is carried out, and God’s Spirit empowers us to accomplish it all, to glorify God and display His Greatness in and through my life.

This plan is part of a series of plans based on Dr. Ramesh Richard’s Intentional Life Trilogy. From the second book, Soul Mission, came Bible reading plans Soul Mission: Determine your Purpose for Living and Displaying the Greatness of God in Your Life. For more information on the Intentional Life series, including online courses based on the books, visithttps://www.theintentionallife.net.