What ultimately has a decisive influence on a person's life is character. Ability and talent can build a person's life to a certain extent. But in the end, the decisive influence comes from character. Without good character, even ability and talent will hit a wall — and what causes failure and collapse in life and faith is, in many cases, flawed character.
Good character traits such as humility, purity, warmth, diligence, a positive attitude, and a sense of responsibility influence every area of life — family, social life, and faith. The same is true in ministry.
Character is formed over a long period of time. It is not made or changed overnight; it grows and changes little by little. And because people have a sinful nature, building good character requires a battle with oneself — both humanly and spiritually.
Three things are needed to cultivate good character.
First, personal effort. We must make the repeated effort not to give up in difficult circumstances, to be responsible and diligent in what we are entrusted with, to maintain a positive mindset in all situations, and to embrace and understand others.
Second, spiritual discipline. We need to continually meditate on God's Word and pray — taking time to reflect on ourselves, repent, and renew our minds. Through such times, the Holy Spirit transforms our inner character.
Third, people who build others up. We need people who can show us the right path, correct our mistakes, encourage us, and pray for us.
Character can be built and transformed into good character when all three are present together. The house church is exactly that kind of place — a community where shepherds and members show each other the right path, correct each other's mistakes, encourage and pray for each other, and are trained together to develop good character.
(This column is summarised from Pastor Jae-Jeong Kim's book, By Still Waters.)
Word of the week
Let us practise the language of heaven in our house churches. Through meditating on God's Word, prayer, and words of encouragement that build one another up, our character begins to be shaped into the likeness of Jesus.
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아랫글
이동주 2026.05.23 16:17
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What ultimately has a decisive influence on a person's life is character. Ability and talent can build a person's life to a certain extent. But in the end, the decisive influence comes from character. Without good character, even ability and talent will hit a wall — and what causes failure and collapse in life and faith is, in many cases, flawed character.
Good character traits such as humility, purity, warmth, diligence, a positive attitude, and a sense of responsibility influence every area of life — family, social life, and faith. The same is true in ministry.
Character is formed over a long period of time. It is not made or changed overnight; it grows and changes little by little. And because people have a sinful nature, building good character requires a battle with oneself — both humanly and spiritually.
Three things are needed to cultivate good character.
First, personal effort. We must make the repeated effort not to give up in difficult circumstances, to be responsible and diligent in what we are entrusted with, to maintain a positive mindset in all situations, and to embrace and understand others.
Second, spiritual discipline. We need to continually meditate on God's Word and pray — taking time to reflect on ourselves, repent, and renew our minds. Through such times, the Holy Spirit transforms our inner character.
Third, people who build others up. We need people who can show us the right path, correct our mistakes, encourage us, and pray for us.
Character can be built and transformed into good character when all three are present together. The house church is exactly that kind of place — a community where shepherds and members show each other the right path, correct each other's mistakes, encourage and pray for each other, and are trained together to develop good character.
(This column is summarised from Pastor Jae-Jeong Kim's book, By Still Waters.)
Word of the week
Let us practise the language of heaven in our house churches. Through meditating on God's Word, prayer, and words of encouragement that build one another up, our character begins to be shaped into the likeness of Jesus.