character and comfort…

another purpose of problems is they sanctify my character.  they make me like JESUS.  they help me mature.  they help me grow. 

james 1.3-4 (niv), the testing of your faith produces perseverance…so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

that is GOD’s long-range goal.  HIS ultimate purpose is maturity.  GOD wants you to grow up.  HE wants you to mature and in this CHRISTian life, character is the bottom line. 

there are so many CHRISTians who have absolutely no idea of GOD’s agenda in their life.  they don’t know what’s happening and as a result they are overwhelmed by their problems.  GOD’s number one purpose in your life is to make you like JESUS CHRIST.  GOD is much more interested in building my character than in making me comfortable.  if GOD is going to make me like JESUS, HE’s going to take me through the things that JESUS went through.

there were times that JESUS was lonely, fatigued, tempted to be depressed and discouraged.  the bible says there are two ways that GOD makes us like JESUS.

-through the word of GOD.  john 17.17 (niv), sanctify them by the truth.  YOUr word is truth.  james 1:22-25, “HIS word makes us like JESUS.”  it builds our character, matures us but even if you read the bible two hours a day, how many hours of your life are you not reading GOD’s word?  GOD demands even more the second way.

-through the circumstances of life.  here’s where james hits it right on the head. 

so many CHRISTians say, “everything was going great when i first became a believer.  then all of these problems came.  maybe GOD doesn’t love me.  maybe i’m not a CHRISTian.  maybe i’m not really saved.  maybe i’ve missed the boat.’  no, you are exactly where GOD wants you to be.  you’re in HIS character course.  HE’s making you like JESUS.

just a thought from the front porch...