Peter said,
"So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given,
complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding,
alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and
generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With
these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your
feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of
our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can't see what's right before
you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books" (2
Peter 1:5-9 MSG).
Today we will
focus on the statement, "complementing your basic faith with good
character."
So what does this
mean? A few things.
1. Embrace your uniqueness.
Modern dictionaries define character as: the way someone thinks, feels,
and behaves; someone's personality. But I like to use Noah webster's
American Dictionary of the English Language (from 1828), because I like to go
back and find out what words used to mean. The 1828 dictionary defines
character as: The peculiar qualities, impressed by nature or habit on a person,
which distinguish him from others; these constitute real character, and the
qualities which he is supposed to possess, constitute his estimated character,
or reputation. Hence we say, a character is not formed, when the person
has not acquired stable and distinctive qualities. Your character is
comprised of the qualities that distinguish you from everyone else. God
did not make you a carbon-copy. God made you an original. Embrace
your uniqueness.
2. Protect your uniqueness.
Paul said, "Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good
character" (1 Cor 15:33). You will not grow in grace by mistake.
For you to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God you will have to be
intentional and part of that directed focus must include a careful
consideration of your associations. Solomon taught us that both wisdom
and foolishness can be transferred by association (Prov 13:20). Surround
yourself with people who are not intimidated by your assignment, who are
comfortable with their own assignment, and who can help you celebrate the
diversities of giftings and callings without jealousy. God did not give
you what He gave anyone else and He did not give them what He gave you.
You are unique. Accept it, embrace it, and protect it.
3. Allow God to use your uniqueness for His
glory. Once you are comfortable with whom God has made you to be
and what He has called you to do, you are in position to allow God to use your
uniqueness for His glory. You were born WHEN you were and WHERE you were
for WHY you were. No one on the planet has your assignment, your
voiceprint, your fingerprint, or your unique composition. You are
fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps 139:14). Ask God to use your
uniqueness for His glory. Bind your feet to the path God designed for you
before the world began and live determined to make the impact you were born to
make. Why? Because no one else has the grace to do it. ONLY
YOU can be the YOU God called YOU to be!
