Character Flaws to Avoid

“… rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.”- 1 Peter 2:1 ^(NIV)

God, in His infinite wisdom, has given us an entire book which chronicles the history of the Hebrew nation; their rejection of Christ as their Messiah and the grafting in of the gentiles as recipients of the precious salvation gift that was originally meant for God’s chosen people, the Jews. In its’ pages we, as believers in Christ, are instructed in many ways regarding many important topics. Perhaps one that is most important, because it can be so incredibly devious and destructive both within and outside the body of Christ are those negative attributes listed above. 

We are to rid ourselves of these heinous character flaws. We are still human and therefore prone to exhibit them from time to time. It takes a conscience effort to rid ourselves of such behavior patterns. Life can be cruel and those in it the ones administering the cruelty. We must not lash out. We must not be two-faced. We must not wish ill upon anyone. It is a battle that we will face so often that it will seem continuous. We must embrace Christ, so we become all that God intends us to be. Without Christ in our lives, we WILL succumb to the temptation of living out each and every one of those negative personality traits and will be miserable in the process. Surrender your will to God. Only He can save us from ourselves. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

MALICE (def): A desire to harm others or to see others suffer; extreme ill will or spite.

DECEIT (def): The act or practice of deceiving; deception.