Dr. Mike Jones

What comes to mind is how scripture talks about the stature King Saul, how he was the most handsome man in Israel – head and shoulders above everyone else (1 Samuel 9). And how the Prophet Samuel was sent to anoint David as the new King, and saw his brother Eliab, and thought, “Surely this must be the one!” He quickly learned that God’s measure of a person was totally different than man’s (1 Samuel 16).

So as today, in many cases, the criteria we use to measure the attributes of a strong Christian is from an outward appearance: We often misjudge their measure of strength by, factors such as, their attendance and participation in our weekly services, yet, they could be starving on the inside for a closer relationship with our Lord.

What then (you may be asking), ought to be the criteria/attributes of a strong Christian? Our answer is found throughout scripture, but particularly in Galatians 5: Here are a few qualities of a person who is truly led by the Spirit, as well as working out their salvation through involvement in their local assembly.

* They have JOY – which is the state of being content that results from knowing and serving God.
* They have PEACE – which is a spirit of calmness and freedom from inward/outward pressures.
* They have PATIENCE – which is the ability to consistently wait on God wait enduring trials.
* They have GOODNESS/KINDNESS – which is good behavior and considerate of others’ needs.
* They have FAITHFULNESS – which means they’re dedicated,steadfast, and worthy of trust.
* They have SELF-CONTROL – which means they’re temperate and able to retain composure.

These attributes being manifested from the heart and soul of a believer, put them in the category of a strong Christian.