Choices Create Character

    The choices we make, on a daily basis, create our character. People forget that
others are always watching us, as Christians, including our God. Our decisions,
our choices, not only reflect our inner strength and character, but they also can
build or tear down our witness for Jesus Christ.
    People of character have strong convictions and a great resolve to do what is
right, even to the point of death. When we study the Book of Martyrs for the cause
of Christ, it becomes very apparent that these people willingly gave up their lives
for Christ, had made choices throughout their lives. The choices that these people
made helped build their character and inner strength to the point that it would not
break, even under the worst of circumstances.
    We can see this resolve, this strength of character in Steven, as he stands before
the Sanhedrin. The choices that he made on a daily basis, allowed others to see
him as a leader in the early church. These same choices, like building blocks,
created a man of great moral character. Steven, refused to back down, even though
his life was in jeopardy. His moral character was strong enough, not to wilt, when
the going got tough.
    We see these same building blocks being used throughout scripture. Choices that
are made early in life, on a daily basis, create the strong character of the men and
women we admire in The Bible.
     Joshua, David, Daniel, Ruth, Esther and many more, all had an inner strength
and a moral character built upon their choices throughout their lives. When the
time came for them to make the toughest of choices, it was made easier because
of their character built through years of following God.
     I'm reminded of Martin Luther King's, I Have a Dream speech. He had lived
in the segregation of the south. He had seen people killed and brutalized, simply
because of their skin color. Martin's character was built up from daily choices that
he made. His resolve to fix the problem was built, stone by stone, out of the
injustices he saw. He did not preach separation or racism, he wanted, he desired,
for men, regardless of skin color, to be judged by their character.
    Our choices create our character. Choose wisely!