Six Streams of Living Waterਨਮੂਨਾ

A Virtuous Life

Today, we’re learning from the Church’s “holiness tradition,” our second “stream” of wisdom for a healthy and energizing spiritual life, which emphasizes the reformation of our hearts so we can respond appropriately to life’s challenges. It teaches us the value of a virtuous life; a life inspired by Jesus and defined by love of neighbor and integrity of speech and action.

Richard Foster helps us first understand what the virtuous life is not: “The virtuous life is not about rules or judgment, perfectionism, or some kind of merit gained by good deeds.”

Instead, Foster goes on, the virtuous life “encourages us to the ultimate goal: not to ‘g​et us into heaven, but to get heaven into us.’ It is attentiveness to the source of our actions, to the condition and motives of the heart, and taking on new patterns of life that flow naturally from within.”

In today’s passage, Paul teaches us to be intentional about our thoughts and motives: “Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is,” he writes, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:1-2).

Why do you think this “setting” of the heart and mind is so important?

The reason lies in a familiar principle: Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits, and your habits become your character.

Resetting your heart and mind onto Jesus is the key that unlocks the virtuous life. As you look to heaven, heaven gets into you. You begin to embody Christ’s ethic of love and integrity, living a holy life in an unholy world.

Use this moment now to gently set your gaze on Jesus. Humbly receive His abundant and holy life, then go and live it out. Today, the virtuous life can be yours!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I lift my eyes to heaven, and I set my heart and mind on You. Help me to reflect Your beautiful holiness today as I go about my daily life, not through perfectionism or rules, but by transforming my heart to be more like Jesus’. Shape my character to reflect Your Kingdom and use me to bring glimpses of heaven into this broken world.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.