11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Quest for Character, August 30, 2006
This review is from: The Quest for Character (Hardcover)
When I first heard of this book I thought it would be a companion to one of MacArthur's other books The Book On Leadership because the cover design was similar. But when it came in the mail it was actually a tiny gift-size book. I skimmed it and felt a little disappointed because it just seemed like a brief review with a lot of artwork. But then I read it. This may be a small book, but it "packs a punch." I never would have thought that a coffee-table type book could be so convicting!
One thing that I was right about is that the book is a bit of a review. In four short sections MacArthur covers "The Beatitudes" from Matthew 5:3-12, "The Progress of Faith" from 2 Peter 1:5-8, "The Fruit of the Spirit" from Galatians 5:22-23, and "The Triumph of Love" from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. With not even 150 pages to the book, the chapters aren't able to go into much detail. This isn't an in-depth look at these four character studies, but rather a glimpse of them. Hopefully the glimpse will stir readers on, as it did me, to deeper study of the Scriptures they cover.
Each chapter is, at most, four pages long, so this book is easy to read. I found it to be very inspiring in the challenges it presented for my own character. Below are some specific portions that I gleaned a lot from.
- Chapter 4 "A Parched Soul" This chapter addresses the heart of our desires. Most people want pleasure, comfort, popularity or power but the righteous person will I "hunger and thirst for righteousness." (Matthew 5:6) The righteous person desires most for God to be glorified. MacArthur writes about the difficulty many Christians have because they desire the things of the world rather than righteousness. I really like how he said,
"If you recognize your spiritual poverty,
then turn to Christ as Lord and Savior.
Ask Him to give you spiritual live by his Spirit.
He promises He will turn no one away." (p.28)
I was encouraged by this knowing that as His child, I can trust Him to replace my old fleshly desires with new ones. Though I sometimes seek for self, I can pray and ask Him to replace that self-centeredness with a hunger and thirst for righteousness and His glory.
-Chapter 7 "A Passion For Peace" The idea of peace is sometimes just that in my mind...an idea. With so much evil and sin I wonder how things could ever be peaceful. I was challenged by what MacArthur writes about peace and its interconnectedness to holiness:
"Jesus never sought to avoid conflict or persecution for the
sake of false peace. Scripture says, 'The wisdom that is from
above is first pure, then peaceable.' (James 3:17) As much as we
love peace and prefer peace over any kind of conflict, making
peace with evil is unthinkable. Sanctioning evil brings no peace at all.
One of the best ways we can be peacemakers is by proclaiming the
gospel of reconciliation to a world in conflict. (p. 39-40)
-Chapter 10 "Virtue" I found this chapter to be very motivating for me to actively seek to develop Christlike character . MacArthur says,
"There is no shortcut to Christlike character.
If virtue could instantly be ours through some
sort of passive, instantaneous, supernatural experience,
Peter would have urged us to seek that experience.
He doesn't. He commands diligence and describes a
process of gradual sanctification whereby we are
increasingly conformed to the image of Christ as we
exercise diligence in the cultivation of personal virtues.
Don't be frustrated by the process. Embrace it and be diligent
to see it through the end." (p.53)
-Chapter 17 "Love" I've studied the fruits of the Spirit many times, but I really enjoyed MacArthur's brief look at them in his book.
"No one can cultivate genuine virtue apart from saving faith
in Christ. These virtues are all the fruits of the Spirit's work
in and through us. You cannot manufacture fruit. Fruit grows
on its own in the right circumstances and given a suitable
environment. You can't get a sweet pear from a bramble bush,
and all the factory workers and equipment in the world could
never fabricate an orange." (p. 81)
This quote reminded me that the expression "fruit of the Spirit" is just that. The Spirit is the root and worker of fruit in my life. I could never produce any character on my own. This book stirred my heart to be more diligent in my pursuit of obedience to God's Word by adding to my faith the virtues Christ perfectly examplifies.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good little devotional book, August 26, 2006
This review is from: The Quest for Character (Hardcover)
MacArthur's The Quest for Character is a look at what a Christian should be like -- or at least be working toward. He takes the reader through the Beatitudes (Matt 5:3-12), 2 Peter 1:5-8, the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and the famous description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Each of the 41 chapters is a short look at one particular virtue, and it is probably good to read just one or two chapters at a time and then chew on that for a while. His writing is crisp, clear, and generally deep. He will probably step on your toes, but you'll be the better for it.
On a more material note, this book, like all of J Countryman's books, is beautiful. It is also, as a result, a bit expensive for its size. Even so, I think this book is one you would do well to purchase and read on a regular basis.
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