Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
--1 Corinthians 15:58
What kind of qualities should we look for in a godly, faithful man? Well, no doubt many would say that a godly man ought to have a good reputation.
I like what the late John Wooden said about reputation. This legendary coach of the UCLA Bruins basketball team said, "Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
There's so much truth in that statement. Our character is the sum of all the choices that we make in life... the choices we make in public, as well as the ones we make when we're alone.
This is why it's so important to choose Christ and to follow him faithfully. Look! We don't become righteous then turn to Christ. Jesus is the way to righteousness!
If you want to be a godly man, then step up to the plate and embrace today's Scripture verse: "... Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 
Let Christ shape your character and make you the person he created you to be. Then follow without looking back.

CHARACTER IS THE SUM OF THE CHOICES THAT WE MAKE IN LIFE.

Making Judgments
By Os Hillman
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven" (Luke 6:37).
Have you ever made a judgment about a person or situation only to discover how wrong you were in your assessment? Such was the case in a story told by Os Guinness in his book, The Call.
"Arthur F. Burns, the chairman of the United States Federal Reserve System and ambassador to West Germany, was a man of considerable gravity. Medium in height, distinguished, with wavy silver hair and his signature pipe, he was economic counselor to a number of presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Ronald Reagan. When he spoke, his opinions carried weight and Washington listened.
Arthur Burns was also Jewish, so when he began attending an informational White House group for prayer and fellowship in the 1970s, he was accorded special respect. In fact, no one knew quite how to involve him in the group and, week after week when different people took turns to end the meeting in prayer, Burns was passed by-out of a mixture of respect and reticence.
One week, however, the group was led by a newcomer who did not know of Burns' status. As the meeting ended, the newcomer turned to Arthur Burns and asked him to close the time with a prayer. Some of the old-timers glanced at each other in surprise and wondered what would happen. But without missing a beat, Burns reached out, held hands with others in the circle, and prayed this prayer: 'Lord, I pray that you would bring Jews to know Jesus Christ. I pray that you would bring Muslims to know Jesus Christ. Finally, Lord, I pray that you would bring Christians to know Jesus Christ. Amen.'
Burn's prayer has become legendary in Washington. Not only did he startle those present with refreshing directness, but he also underscored a point about 'Christians' and 'Christianity' that needs repeating regularly. It highlights another important aspect of the truth of calling: Calling reminds Christians ceaselessly that, far from having arrived, a Christian is someone who in this life is always on the road as 'a follower of Christ' and a follower of 'the Way.'"*
Before you judge a situation, consider that your judgment might not be an accurate assessment of the situation.

Get Serious about Living a Godly Life

...let us follow the Spirit's leading... Galatians 5:25

Charles Spurgeon said, 'If we are not seeking the Lord, the Devil is seeking us.' And he gets us when we lower our guard and become complacent. If you're serious about living a godly life, read on. 'Live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict... When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group. Envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin... But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control... Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives' (Galatians 5:16-25 NLT). When you get serious about living a godly life, God will help you.

God never says, "Oops!"
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
-Romans 8:28
D.L. Moody, the great evangelist, used to say, "I would rather live in the eighth chapter of Romans than in the Garden of Eden."
Now here's what he was saying. In the Garden of Eden man sinned and fell and was cursed. But in Romans 8, we find a place where there is no condemnation, where we discover security in Christ, and where he promises to cause things to work together for our benefit!
Maybe you're going through a difficult time right now. Perhaps you feel alone or abandoned.
Perhaps it looks like evil is winning. But because of Jesus, evil can't be victorious. Ultimately, God will transform the evil in this life into good, as Romans 8:28 says.
You can trust him with the struggles and pain in your life. Nothing is outside the purposes and parameters of a sovereign God! He never makes a mistake. There's never been a time in eternity or in your life where God has said, "Oops!" Not one time!
Let God touch those things that are so terrible and tragic in your life. And in his love and grace, let him work all things together for good. You have his word; God will work things out.
NOTHING IS OUTSIDE THE PURPOSES AND PARAMETERS OF OUR SOVEREIGN GOD!

Do you have faith?
And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes."
—Mark 9:23
Today's verse is one of the greatest verses in the Bible. But what does it mean?
First, let me tell you what it doesn't mean. It doesn't mean that God's going to give you anything you believe. You can't just believe that God's going to give you a brand new Rolls Royce. That's not what he's saying.
Here's what Jesus is teaching. Don't miss this! If you believe, then God can do anything in your life! If you believe. you see, God is able to do all things, and he does them according to his plan and according to his purpose and according to his will.
The way that God is released... the way his power is released in your life and mine... is through faith!  If you believe God can do anything. 
So let me ask you, "How much faith do you have? Do you believe?" Whether you know it or not, you need faith. You need faith just to believe in God every day.
Now, perhaps you think you've got it all together. You may think you're strong enough and powerful enough and good enough to make it on your own. But you're not.
You need faith! It's through faith in Jesus Christ that you're enabled to accomplish things you never dreamed possible! If you can believe, all things are possible!
YOU NEED FAITH JUST TO BELIEVE IN GOD EVERY DAY.