C H A R A C T E R by brent mills

"That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:5-6, 9-10 (NLT)

Of all people in the history of Christianity, there are few who could compare to the Apostle Paul in their service to the Kingdom of God. Despite all this, I’ve been challenged lately by his completely humble response to people who questioned his accomplishments:

“I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message.”

In other words, there is no value in striving or boasting about anything in the world except my character and testimony about the Lord Jesus. When I consider my own life and priorities, I immediately see many things that occupy my time and attention that don’t pass this test.

Character is 24/7.

Character is my life when people are watching and when they are NOT watching.

And yet, I don’t strive to live this way in my own strength. I can’t. I’ll never succeed if I approach my Christian faith as a behavior improvement program. That is Paul’s point of verses 9-10 in the passage above. I get to accept the forgiveness of Jesus and clothe myself in HIS righteousness. He already knows my weaknesses, and He’s ready and willing to come into my life, cover me in His grace, and help me live with the character I want to have.

I’m guessing the guys from Hillsong Worship must have had some similar thoughts when they wrote this song  “I Will Boast in Christ” last year…it’s been stuck in my head lately.
Maybe it will help you remember these thoughts as well…

Thanks for joining us on the journey-

Brent