Daily Thought for Wednesday, April 6th

April 6, 2011

Character a.k.a. Your Witness

“I think character is what you’re dong when nobody is around.”

- Peyton Manning

“Character is what you are in the dark.”

– Dwight L. Moody

Today’s Thought:

“Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wings, those who cheer today will curse tomorrow: only one thing endures – character.” – Horace Greeley

Today’s Question

Would you agree that, “A man’s character is determined by how hard he fights for what he believes in?” – Aben Kandel and Warren Duff (From the film ‘The Iron Major’)

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”

– The Bible (Proverbs 20:11)

“Character is much easier kept than recovered.” – Thomas Paine

But what constitutes one’s character?  Plutarch said, “Character is a long-standing habit.”  Horace Mann said, “Character is what God and the angels know of us: reputation is what men and woman think of us.”

According to Webster’s Dictionary, “Character is an individual’s pattern of behavior or personality: moral constitution, moral strength: self-discipline, fortitude, etc.,” In short his or her reputation.  In spiritual terms it is the testimony of the life an individual has, not just before God, but also before men.

Our character is in affect our witness to the world.  It tells the world who we are, what we believe in and how well we live up to what we say we believe.

Character is not necessarily something we get all at once, but rather it is something we develop as we experience life.

Philip Books said, “Character maybe manifested in great moments, but it is made in small ones.”  Our character is revealed in times of crises and distress but it is often developed by how we learn to deal with others and circumstances in our day-to-day living.

In this world it is our witness, the testimony of our lives that will influence and affect others.  It is who we are, what we stand for and how we live (our character) that will affect and determine the nature, kind and effectiveness of our testimony for God.  If we say one thing but do another, we are not going to have a strong testimony and we are going to be perceived to be poor in character as well.  Dwight Moody said, “If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.”  Woodrow Wilson said, “If you think about what you ought to do for other people your character will take care of itself.” 

Good advice, if we take care to follow God’s way and serve our fellow man in love and humility we will most certainly develop a good character, have a sound witness and a testimony that is pleasing to God and thus beneficial to men.

Maybe the testimony we should have and our goal in life should be thus:

“A good character is the best tombstone.

Those who loved you, and were helped by you,

will remember you when the forget-me-nots are withered.

 Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble.”

– Charles Spurgeon

Today’s Verses:

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

                        Matthew 10:16-18

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Revelation 12:9-12

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I develop the kind of character that will enable me to have a good witness and be a living testimony for you.