Character

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles (16:9)

Our culture is overly impressed with the externals. You must look good on TV to win the political race. It’s the image you need to polish. Spin it just right. But we all know--and all have seen-that a leader without character is a tragedy getting ready to happen.

As pastors, we know about the importance of character, of course. But knowing it isn’t our assignment. Your congregation requires your character. Your role is filled because character is present, or it decreases if it is absent. The church where you serve as senior pastor may have a respect for you and appreciates your efforts (all your weaknesses not withstanding). But this respect hangs on the fact that you're committed to modeling character, and that you're not going to let it slip away in the stuff of leadership.

You don’t follow the crowd when they go against what you believe. If that means being unpopular, be unpopular. Who cares? It’s about character, not others’ approval and applause. Character is modeled not just mandated.

Our roles as pastors are invaluable roles. So, let’s never forget our roles begin with our character. Call it swimming upstream. Our flock learns this more from our lives than from our lips.

Reading Scripture verses won’t make our lives automatically change, but it sure will motivate us to cultivate character. God expects it, and rewards it, when He finds character: “

Character is not some ancient biblical term that gets lost in the dust of the Minor Prophets. It’s what makes you contagious. It’s what gives you the right to lead without ever having to remind anybody you’re the pastor.