On Character Building

Romans 5:1-5 NIV  Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 5:1-6 PHILLIPS   Since then it is by faith that we are justified, let us grasp the fact that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have confidently entered into this new relationship of grace, and here we take our stand, in happy certainty of the glorious things he has for us in the future. This doesn’t mean, of course, that we have only a hope of future joys—we can be full of joy here and now even in our trials and troubles. Taken in the right spirit these very things will give us patient endurance; this in turn will develop a mature character, and a character of this sort produces a steady hope, a hope that will never disappoint us. Already we have some experience of the love of God flooding through our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us.

Observation

“Wait just a doggone minute!  Isn’t this Christian life supposed to be full of peace, joy and blessing?  What is Paul talking about – “we also glory in our suffering”?  I wasn’t told I was signing up for all that character building!!”  How many of us have said this to God in one way or another?  We find it easy to rejoice when He displays His sovereignty, moving in favor and power on our behalf or when He blesses us through the generosity and kindness of another; however, “glorying in our suffering” is an entirely different matter.  Didn’t the sacrifice of Jesus overcome the world?  Jesus never promised us an easy life (John 16:33) but He did promise that we would have His peace and His presence to go with us through whatever comes.

The Jews of Jesus’ time blamed their suffering and trials (poverty, sickness, and so on) on God’s disfavor or punishment – what you did or were brought down His wrath.  “What did I do or not do to displease God and bring this down on me?  How did I go wrong?  What ritual can I perform to fix this?  I am just too bad to be redeemed.”  Jesus teaches us that those in Christ who go there do not understand God’s heart.  In Christ there can be no separation from the very love of God (Romans 8:38-39 NIV).  Our position in Him is not about what we have done but rather about what Jesus did for us. He provided grace, salvation, redemption – period and all for free.    

Sufferings and trials sometimes come through God’s faith-building plan (see Acts) but always result from our own foolish choices or our enemy, the devil.  If we don’t understand the nature of the relationship we have in Christ with God, we will be tempted to surrender to the despair and deterioration the devil’s efforts are working in us and the world around us, causing us to live in defeat rather than victory.

Paul teaches us here that enduring and persevering in faith with God through difficult times is one way we confirm that we understand His heart and this new covenant in Christ.  As we grow in character by exercising our faith, we demonstrate our gratitude for His grace, our trust in what He has promised, and personally enforce the defeat of the devil won for us in our own lives on the Cross by Jesus.  Paul tells us to glory in our sufferings because it strengthens our faith in God’s presence, goodness, mercy and provision; it fills us with boundless hope and trust in God’s will and purpose being fulfilled in our lives.

Impact on Me

I think about when my daughter was born. I did not rejoice in the labor but I did glory in the result. I imagine it is similar for athletes, students and others who invest much hard work and many hours into achieving their goals. The investment of time, energy and “suffering” are worth the result. So, saying “Yes” to God (staying the course, seeking His guidance, continuing in prayer and the Word) when things in life go desperate, catawampus or topsy-turvy is part of the plan to equip me to be who I am called to be in order to do what I am called to do. God is giving me (and you) the opportunity to build strong character – whether in blessing or sacrifice – that will provide hope that never disappoints. 

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (Romans 15:13 NLT).  No matter the reason for the challenging or difficult path (God’s plan, the devil’s contriving or my own folly), I have the confidence that Jesus goes with me and, as I let Him, He will lead me with grace and truth to grow in faith and fulfill God’s will and purpose for me and my life.

Prayer

Lord God, You are Wisdom itself and the source of true love.  I want to stop complaining about my circumstances so I can hear Your voice guiding me through them. I want to allow You to determine the best character-building exercise for me, knowing that as I do the work, You will build the muscle of my faith and hope. I want to increasingly recognize Your presence with me in all circumstances so I will depend increasingly less on myself and ever more on You.  I want my question to be “What do You have for me to do here?” rather than “What did I do to deserve this?!”  May I always remember that Jesus agreed to go to the Cross for my sake so I will never question the cost to me when You ask me to be a sacrifice. Build that character in me that rebounds in faith and never loses hope. In Jesus’ name, make it so.