Yesterday I was making the point that training is one thing, but actually carrying out that training in real life – Performance – is another. There are applications in sports and music, of course, and with respect to the Christian life, I wrote:
No one cares how many Bible verses you’ve memorized if you’re rude to the checkout clerk in the grocery store.
That application to real life involves the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5.22, 23). Or, what Mark Greene in his book Fruitfulness on the Frontline calls “Modeling Godly Character.” I have written about this before: a framework for fruitfulness – or “How can God use me today?” Mark calls them the 6 Ms:
- Model godly character
- Make good work
- Minister grace and love
- Mold culture
- Be a Mouthpiece for truth and justice
- Be a Messenger of the gospel
It’s not a checklist, but it is useful to remember as we “train for godliness” that we train (Practice in this blog series) for godliness – and that godliness can be shown in many ways. Tomorrow I’ll share a perspective on Molding Culture and Being a Mouthpiece for truth and justice.
And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. (Titus 3.14, ESV)