Did you know that every human has their own virtues they live by? Likely you do. You likely have your own set of virtues/morals: not to lie, to be on time, to be respectful, to show yourself as trustworthy, work hard at your job/school, etc. Did you also know that Christians are the live the virtues set out for us in the Bible? Here are some for you to both look up, study and apply to your life:
Cleanliness 2 Corinthians 7:1
Courage Phillipians 1:27-28
Endurance 2 Timothy 2:3
Obedience Romans 13:1-7
Purity 2 Timothy 2:22 (look at all those 2's)
Temperance 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Diligence Romans 12:15, 18
Discretion Ephesians 5:15-17
Friendliness Romans 12:15, 18
Prudence James 1:19
Pure Thinking Philippians 4:8
Steadfastness Ephesians 6:10-18
Truthfulness Ephesians 4:15, 25, 29
Cheerfulness Philippians 4:4, Colossians 3:16, 17
Faith Mark 11:22-24
Faithfulness 1 Corinthians 4:2
Forgiveness Ephesians 4:31, 32
Gratitude Philippians 4:6
Honesty Romans 12:17
Honour 1 Peter 2:17
Humility Philippians 2:3-11
Liberality 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Love 1 John 4:7-8
Meekness Matthew 5:5
Mercy Matthew 5:7
Patience Hebrews 10:36, 37
Peacefulness Romans 12:18
Sympathy 1 Peter 3:8, 9
This is by far, not an exhaustive list and yet it sounds like a lot to live up to doesn't it? It really isn't when you stop and think about a couple things Jesus said to His disciples. Love your neighbour as you love yourself; love one another as I (Jesus) have loved you; love your enemies; do unto others as you would have others do unto you; and then there are the Fruits of the Spirit that we as Christians are to live by:
Galatians 5:19-23 (New International Version)
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
What is in red, DO NOT DO, what is in green, DO. And this too, is in the Bible:
Romans 7:15 - New International Version (©1984)
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
New Living Translation (©2007)
I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate.
English Standard Version (©2001)
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
SOME CROSS REFERENCES FOR YOU LOOK UP:
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Romans 7:19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.
Galatians 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
New International Version ©1984 by Biblica
AND SOME COMMENTARY ON THIS FROM MATTHEW HENRY'S CONCISE COMMENTARY:
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
7:14-17 Compared with the holy rule of conduct in the law of God, the apostle found himself so very far short of perfection, that he seemed to be carnal; like a man who is sold against his will to a hated master, from whom he cannot set himself at liberty. A real Christian unwillingly serves this hated master, yet cannot shake off the galling chain, till his powerful and gracious Friend above, rescues him. The remaining evil of his heart is a real and humbling hinderance to his serving God as angels do and the spirits of just made perfect. This strong language was the result of St. Paul's great advance in holiness, and the depth of his self-abasement and hatred of sin. If we do not understand this language, it is because we are so far beneath him in holiness, knowledge of the spirituality of God's law, and the evil of our own hearts, and hatred of moral evil. And many believers have adopted the apostle's language, showing that it is suitable to their deep feelings of abhorrence of sin, and self-abasement. The apostle enlarges on the conflict he daily maintained with the remainder of his original depravity. He was frequently led into tempers, words, or actions, which he did not approve or allow in his renewed judgement and affections. By distinguishing his real self, his spiritual part, from the self, or flesh, in which sin dwelt, and by observing that the evil actions were done, not by him, but by sin dwelling in him, the apostle did not mean that men are not accountable for their sins, but he teaches the evil of their sins, by showing that they are all done against reason and conscience. Sin dwelling in a man, does not prove its ruling, or having dominion over him. If a man dwells in a city, or in a country, still he may not rule there.
It is not easy to live up to ALL virtues at once, and I do not believe that God expects us to. Only once in history was there someone who lived up to all of them, and they crucified Him and killed Him for it.
We are simply asked to live these virtues to the best of our ability through the strength that God gives us. We can NEVER do it in our own strength. Because without God we are nothing but dust.
Matthew 19:26 (New International Version)
26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
I encourage you to not just skim this study and then put it aside, but to truly study what each of the virtues really means for our own personal lives and how it can be applied in the various areas of our lives: family, work, school, social, personal, spiritual, emotional, etc.
When you have completed reading this, take time to pray and ask God to show you where you need work with virtues and living according to His virtues, and not just what we think they mean, but what your study reveals them to mean.
God bless you as you search your soul with an open heart, open mind and a willingness to do the Lord's will over your own.
Sheri Adams © October 3, 2010
All Scriputre text is from:
http://bible.cc/romans/7-15.htm
www.biblegateway.com
Sheri Adams lives in Peterborough, Ontario, volunteering in a variety of ways. She spends her time writing articles, poetry, doing a wide variety of crafts and always looking for new ideas to write about. When not volunteering, Sheri is learning how to improve her life in all ways, hoping to pass that knowledge onto other people. She is optimistic and creates an atomosphere of quiet strength around her. She enjoys every moment of life, cherishing even the small things such as watching buds open on trees in Spring.