“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” (Ephesians 4.1)
Last week we saw that an axios (worthy) life is one that is lived in alignment with the character of Christ. It is a life is directed by faith, empowered by the indwelling Spirit, and learned and developed over time. It is the never-ending process of daily spiritual growth.
Living an axios life is the process of character development and discipleship. This leads to the question: How is character formed? How does discipleship happen?
Discipleship is the process of growing progressively more mature in Christ. It is called various things: spiritual formation; spiritual development; spiritual growth; and the fancy theological phrase “progressive sanctification.” Whatever description you use, it is the process of developing and growing in your relationship with Christ so that you know God more deeply, obey him more consistently, and bear more fruit in the work that you do every day.
Paul prayed for exactly this in Colossians 1.9-10: “We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy (axios) of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
It is helpful to note that the word “character” is Greek for “to stamp or engrave.” Over time, through repeated action, the Spirit empowers you to engrave certain habits into your life. You stamp your life with a pattern of beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. You develop habits of the heart which become your character.
To put it another way, your character is the result of the cumulative impact of your choices and repeated behaviors. Character is who you are based on the habits you build into your life. Your character is the pattern of thinking and acting you have developed as the result of repeated practice.
In order to build specific character attributes into your life, it is necessary to repeatedly practice specific virtues. An axios character requires the repeated practice of Christian virtues and principles. Repeated behavior over time is necessary for spiritual growth and the development of a Christ-like character.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (I Corinthians 9:24-27)
Paul gives the example of athletes training for the ancient Olympic Games. Like the athletes of today’s modern Olympics, the athletes in Paul’s time were highly focused and disciplined in every aspect of their lives. They “exercised self-control in all things.” They did not want anything to hinder their preparation for or performance in the Games. Self-discipline and continuous training were part of their way of life and were essential to their success.
Paul’s message is clear: Shouldn’t we, who will receive from Christ an imperishable reward, exercise discipline in all things? As followers of Jesus, disciplined practice should be part of our way of life.
Trust God and do the work to grow in Christ.
