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Character Is Power, November 25
We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we
have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of
the glory of God.
Romans 5:1, 2
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Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an
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easy matter. A noble, all-round character is not inherited. It does not come to us
by accident. A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits
and grace and Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form
the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict
must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves
closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected....
A character formed according to the divine likeness is the only treasure that
we can take from this world to the next. Those who are under the instruction of
Christ in this world will take every divine attainment with them to the heavenly
mansions....
The heavenly intelligences will work with the human agent who seeks with
determined faith that perfection of character which will reach out to perfection in
action. To everyone engaged in this work Christ says, I am at your right hand to
help you.
As the will of man cooperates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent.
Whatever is to be done at His command may be accomplished in His strength. All
His biddings are enablings.
Character is power. The silent witness of a true, unselfish, godly life carries an
almost irresistible influence. By revealing in our own life the character of Christ
we cooperate with Him in the work of saving souls. It is only by revealing in our
life His character that we can cooperate with Him. And the wider the sphere of
our influence, the more good we may do. When those who profess to serve God
follow Christ’s example, practicing the principles of the law in their daily life;
when every act bears witness that they love God supremely and their neighbor as
themselves, then will the church have power to move the world....
We know not what results a day, an hour, or a moment may determine, and
never should we begin the day without committing our ways to our heavenly
Father.... When unconsciously we are in danger of exerting a wrong influence, the
angels will be by our side, prompting us to a better course, choosing our words for
us, and influencing our actions. Thus our influence may be a silent, unconscious,
but mighty power in drawing others to Christ and the heavenly world.
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