“Since these virtues are already planted deep within, and you possess them in abundant supply, they will keep you from being inactive or fruitless in your pursuit of knowing Jesus Christ more intimately.”
2 Peter 1:8 TPT
Having had the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and subsequently believing and accepting Him as Lord and Saviour, we enter into a new life characterised by specific qualities. These traits are cultivated through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, as we willingly submit to His guidance. As Zachariah 4:6 states; “So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.” The Holy Spirit leads us into these Heavenly virtues so that we may become more like our Lord and Saviour. While this life often brings increased influence or power , we must never forget that it is all about Jesus. Our way of living and everything He has placed in our hands are intended for His glory. We were created to be an extension of the Lord; wherever He has placed us, our various purposes and duties exist so that we might reflect Him in all our ways. Imagine a world dominated by Heavenly culture; a term I use to describe the practical application of every principle within our Father’s kingdom. We know how good our Father is, and everything about Him is inherently good; we see this reflected even in us. As a result , goodness should always radiate from us, regardless of our circumstances. We come from a good Father; the one who holds the entire world in His hands. Psalms 119:68 says; “You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.” Goodness is the very essence of who our Father is; refuse to let your circumstances distort your understanding of His character. He provided the ultimate example, giving us a case study that is both proven and trusted. The evidence of His nature is visible everywhere.
The Apostle Paul encouraged us to put into practice everything we have seen or heard him do. He walked the earth just as we do, fully focused on pleasing the Father. Though he was a man with shortcomings, he eventually dedicated his entire life to God. He did not consider himself inherently different from anyone else; rather, he was clothed with the life of Christ. Apostle Paul authored numerous letters to the churches he founded and mentored; teachings that remain important for the Church today. As a leader, he urged the believers in 1 Corinthians 11:1: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
See Christ is the ultimate model we are called to follow. Jesus was clothed in humanity, becoming like us so that we would have a way for living. He has experienced everything we face and understands exactly how we feel. This raises a vital question: Is it truly possible to practice Heavenly truth and virtues here on earth? We will address that at the conclusion.
Even though we might not have enough paper to explore every Heavenly virtue, these are a few that the Lord has specifically shaped and directed me toward during this journey of being positioned by Him.
At the beginning of this blog, we addressed why God desires for us to put these virtues into practice; and it’s because we are His extension in the world. This means that the good we do is motivated by God’s own heart; no matter how significant the task appears, our Father is both our inspiration and our reason. The specific level of goodness He calls you to demonstrate always comes with the ability to perform it; He will never leave you to do it alone. Often, He stirs a desire within us to do good because He intends to fill us with Himself. If it were easy or if we could accomplish it independently, we would have no need for His help or guidance, and the purpose of our lives would contradict His design. “Yes, it is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases him, and he gives you the power to do it.” Philippians 2:13 ERV. Often, the virtues we practice yield a greater return, propelling us into the next level of our journey. Our primary responsibility is to remain obedient and pay close attention to what the Lord requires of us.
Here is a reflection on several key virtues the Lord uses to shape us:
- Faith
In Hebrews 11 we read; “Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.” This is a Heavenly principle that not only qualifies us to receive what we hope for but also deeply pleases our Father. The Christian life is one fueled and sustained by faith; as we journey with the Lord, He transforms our thinking and way of life, leading us to realise the weight and significance of our purpose. Often, this realisation begins in our small spaces. While we are physically in these humble settings, the Holy Spirit transports our vision to nations and influential rooms. Faith is the catalyst that bridges that gap, turning the spiritual vision into a physical reality.
We lay hold of such visions through faith, we gain the strength to stand firm and not stagger, much like Abraham. Many forces may rise against the truth God has revealed to us; however, when those opposing voices seem to gain volume or weight, faith is what secures our victory. Consider Jairus, a synagogue leader, who turned to the One who is Life when his daughter fell ill. The Bible recounts how he fell at Jesus’ feet, begging Him to come and heal his child. Despite the negative reports other leaders spread about Jesus, this man believed his daughter could be restored by Him. While they were on the way, Jesus stopped to heal others, and the news reached Jairus that his daughter had unfortunately passed away. In that devastating moment; one that could have caused him to question everything he had just discussed with Jesus; the Master quickly spoke to him, saying; “…Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.””Mark 5:36 NLT. Jairus’s faith activated the miracle that was about to unfold; it brought the hope he held when he first approached Jesus into reality. It is only when we exercise faith that Heaven responds. Jesus required him to maintain that faith, to look beyond the report he heard or the mourners he saw upon arriving at his compound. Then Jairus wiped his tears and fixed himself ignoring what people said and walked to his house. Jesus took the parents and some of the disciples with him into where the girl was sleeping, then said to her; “…“Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).”Mark 5:41 NIV. Talitha did indeed wake up! Who would have thought that her father’s faith would sustain her life, regardless of what the crowd witnessed before Jesus and Jairus arrived? Faith is a Heavenly principle that will always yield results; no matter how much time passes, it will eventually produce fruit. I encourage you to walk by faith, for as Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, it is impossible to please God without it.
2. Compassion
There is so much locked up in this one act of goodness, but my favorite aspect is that our Father is full of compassion. Once again, I am not expected to be something that He is not. “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” Psalms 145:8-9 NIV. When He sees us enduring the worst, it is as if He is going through it Himself. Remember when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the furnace? A fourth man appeared before their eyes, walking through the fire with them. The Lord could have extinguished the flames, but He watched as the soldiers lit the fire. He likely sensed the three men’s internal groaning as the heat intensified. He wasn’t merely testing them; rather, I believe He wanted to demonstrate His profound compassion. Instead of simply lifting them out, He joined them in the fire and began praising with them. If you have been through a great deal, know there is a God who feels your pain, sees your heart, and holds a plan for you, just as seen in Daniel 3:16–28.
We share the same calling to be compassionate toward others. As Zechariah 7:9 (NIV) states: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’” I know many circumstances suggest otherwise. You might ask, “Why be compassionate when I don’t have enough?” or “Why show compassion when everyone is struggling?” Yet, God can transform not enough into abundance; He can wipe away any tear or pain. Your obedience in answering this call can open a door to prosperity because our Father is a God of abundance. Everything He provides is always more than enough. Consider how five loaves and two fish in Matthew 14:17–21 fed five thousand men, not counting the women and children. I can confirm that every single person ate and was satisfied (Matthew 14:20). There is always an opportunity to be compassionate, open your eyes and listen as the Holy Spirit guides you toward those moments. Do not let your current limitations restrict what God wants to bless others with through you. Consider the woman who built a room for the prophet Elisha, all she intended was to care for a man who preached the word ; the same Word that likely brought her great comfort. Yet, because of her compassion, a prophecy was spoken into her life: “About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” True to His nature, she did. Her act of service in her small space unlocked a miracle she hadn’t even asked for. When we use what we have to be a blessing, we align ourselves with the abundance of our Father.
To step into some miracles and promises we are going to have to be an extension of our loving Father. Whether in our business deals, work relationships, people we live with and those we meet once, compassion should be what we offer daily.
I pray that as you answer this call, the right people are already positioned and waiting to receive the grace you carry.
Based on the virtues shared above, is it possible to practice these Heavenly truths in the world?
My answer is yes. Don’t rely on yourself to be able to put these in practice, you have the advantage of walking and communing with the Holy Spirit. The greatest help. Allow Him to help you and lead the way.
We will be sharing on more virtues in the coming weeks!!
Let’s pray;
Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching us to live in a way that honors the Father. We are humbled to be Your hands and feet in this world. Today, we step out in faith, fully aligned with Your will and empowered by Your finished work. Lead us into places you want us to change, in Jesus name. Amen!