THE BUILDING MATERIALS OF A STRONG CHARACTER
Location: 
Oregon, US of A
Date: 
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Teacher(s): 

“The measure of the spiritual capacity of the evolving soul is your faith in truth and your love for man, but the measure of your human strength or character is your ability to resist the holding of grudges and your capacity to withstand brooding in the face of deep sorrow.”  [UB 156:5:17]

Thought Adjuster: “If it were delivered in a PowerPoint presentation, this statement would be summarized as follows:

  • Faith in truth + love for man = spiritual capacity of the evolving soul.
  • Ability to resist the holding of grudges + capacity to withstand brooding = Human strength of character.

Jesus unquestionably earned perfect scores in both areas, which are not compartmentalized in real life.  Doesn’t resentment undermine your love for man, putting you in an adversarial stance?

Parental love, empathy, and compassion dictated Jesus’ emotional responses toward his fellowmen.  He grasped that most of their misdeeds were caused by ignorance—the absence of truth.  It is why he proactively conducted ‘salvation-by-truth.’  As its custodian and provider, he embodied it, as reflected in his outstanding character.

“The Spirit of Truth is concerned primarily with the revelation of the Father’s spirit nature and the Son’s moral character.” [UB 194:3:1]

Truth and love as optimal soul nutrients.  By ingesting them regularly, you will simultaneously grow a strong character, as exemplified by Jesus, who had no propensity whatsoever to pout or view himself as a casualty of life.

“The consciousness of the spirit domination of a human life is presently attended by an increasing exhibition of the characteristics of the Spirit in the life reactions of such a spirit-led mortal, “for the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.” [UB 34:6:13]

Take to heart Jesus’ truthful words. He built his strong character using the positive levers of faith and truth he preconized.”