CHARACTER!

Thursday, February 28, 2019

CHARACTER!

Rom 5:3-5

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

           The word “character” does not appear at all in the KJV translation but is elsewhere translated from the word “experience.” The Greek word which is translated experience and character is dokime’ and literally means “trustiness or trustworthy.” But when we think of the word trustworthy we usually think of someone who is steadily beneficial in their actions and nature.

           We might paraphrase the above verses like this: “and we have learned that hard work produces blisters, and blisters eventually produces callouses, and callouses are the badge of the able craftsman.” Or something similar to that.

           I saw a couple of days ago that it takes 21 days to form a habit and 90 days to form a lifestyle. That is both hopeful and frightening. It is hopeful to know that we can develop a good habit by persistently and repetitively doing the right thing for 21 days. After that it becomes a habit and less work is needed to accomplish that good deed. It is frightening to know that if I persist in doing wrong for 90 days it will be nearly impossible to change those bad habits. I will be enslaved to my choices.

           Dr. Charles Stanley says: “Perseverance is something we do. We persevere under pressure. But character is not something we do-it is something we have or don't have. Character is about what we are or, as some would say, what we are made of. Paul's conclusion is that those who persevere through trials regarding their beliefs are men and women of character.”

Dear Lord, help me to stubbornly do right even in the face of opposition until it becomes natural to do so. AMEN