Today's "vitamin" -- virtue

The first "vitamin" that we will add to our faith is virtue.
Let's look first at what the word "virtue" means -- the dictionary tells us that virtue is moral excellence and goodness, righteousness, and chastity. In another word: holiness. Pretty powerful word!
Virtue speaks of moral purity and excellence. How are we to add virtue to our faith? It's hard work, don't get me wrong. We do need to strive at it:

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (II Timothy 2:22)

In order to flee evil desires, we must recognize them. We need training for that. And we must be trained in righteousness.....it doesn't come naturally. When we study God's Word and follow it, it will transform our lives, and we can live righteous lives.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  (II Timothy 3:16)

Living in moral purity encompasses every aspect of our lives. We are expected to be pure physically, mentally, and spiritually. This is righteousness in action! This is holy living.

Those who walk righteously    and speak what is right,
who reject gain from extortion    and keep their hands from accepting bribes,
who stop their ears against plots of murder    and shut their eyes against contemplating evil— they are the ones who will dwell on the heights,    whose refuge will be the mountain fortress.
Their bread will be supplied,    and water will not fail them. Your eyes will see the king in his beauty    and view a land that stretches afar. (Isaiah 33:15-17)

Paul tells us that the righteousness we strive for is from God:

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 3:9)

And Jesus told us that if we hunger for righteousness, we will be filled:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,    for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)

It's not an impossible assignment, after all! God is pleased when we try and He blesses our efforts to live holy lives. Christians who add virtue to their faith stand out as being morally excellent. They stand out in the crowd!
If Christians act like the world, we do more harm than good for the cause of Christ. Think about it; if the lost man or woman sees no difference between themselves and believers, where is the incentive to listen when we want to tell them about Jesus? If there's no moral purity in our lives, the unbeliever will be quick to point out our hypocrisy.
The world is watching us, and we must work hard to supplement our faith with virtue. It's a much-needed "vitamin" in the lives of believers today.

I read this story on Sermon Central, and thought it was really appropriate for our thoughts today:

 One day as a woman was crossing a street at London station, an old man stopped her. He said to her, "Excuse me, ma'am, but I want to thank you." She looked up and exclaimed, "Thank me?" He replied, "Yes ma’am, I used to be a ticket collector, and whenever you went by you always gave me a cheerful smile and a good morning. I knew that smile must come from inside somewhere. Then one morning I saw a little Bible in your hand. So I bought one, too, and I found out about Jesus from that Bible. Now I too am saved!” That man saw something in that woman that touched his heart. He saw Jesus living in and through her life. Each one of us, who are saved, should so live that the world can see Jesus in our lives.

Jesus told us that we are the light of the world:

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

Do others see Jesus in the way we act at work? In the way we act at the grocery store? At the restaurant?  Standing in line to pay our taxes? Driving in heavy traffic?

Everywhere we go, we need to be walking billboards for Jesus!

Lord, help me to add virtue to my faith!

Truly the righteous attain life,
    but whoever pursues evil finds death. (Proverbs 11:19)