Jan
28
Written by:
Pastor Jesse Nicholson
1/28/2011 11:03 AM
Character is becoming one of those lost arts of our society. People today are enamored with individuals like Rex Ryan, the brash New York Jets coach, or pop music award winners like Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson. What do all these individuals have in common? They have all been on the news for things that most people would not consider good character qualities.
There is an account of a man in the book of Acts (chapters 6-7) by the name of Stephen. He was a man of impeccable character. It is said of him that he was of an honest report. He was full of faith and the Holy Ghost—a spiritual man committed fully to His Lord. He was also used of God to perform miracles for His glory. With the knowledge and wisdom spoken of in Acts 6 of Stephen he must have been a diligent man in his study of God’s Word. He was a man of conviction as he stood up to men of the synagogue who vehemently disagreed with him concerning Jesus. He did not alter his beliefs due to the pressure of influential men. What were his crimes? He was guilty of being a fervent follower of his Lord. He was guilty of being a Christian with good character. Can that be said of me? If that is what I am guilty of then I have run the race well for my Lord. I want my heroes to be the Stephens of today. They don’t have to be famous or well known. They just need to be committed to their Lord and living in a way that is consistent with their beliefs. May the Lord help us to have heroes of good character. And may we be heroes for the younger generation.