CHARACTER!

 

Sunday, July 30, 2023

 

CHARACTER!

 

Rom 5:1-5

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

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 “experience” in verse four is the Greek word dokime (dok-ee-may’) and literally means trustiness or CHARACTER! Vincent’s Word Studies says that it means “tried or proven integrity.”

 

          Because we have been justified by our faith in Christ, we are now at peace with Him and have been given peace from Him. Not only are we no longer at war with Him but we have been given the calmness that transcends anything this world may offer.

 

          Little by little, God begins to build character in His children by allowing tribulation to come into our lives. This He gives us in measured amounts so that we are not overwhelmed. The trials first build patience or endurance. Like an athlete who trains and builds muscle, strength, and stamina, so the believer is able to endure patiently more and more challenges. Almost imperceptibly, because we learn to do the right thing over and over, we develop character.

 

          Character builds hope! Hope is the Greek word elpis which means “to anticipate with pleasure or confidence.” Every time we meet a challenge with integrity and patience, hope is built in us. Because God has delivered us in the past, we know He will not fail us now or in the future. We develop a confidence in Him that cannot be shaken by mere trials.

 

          Finally, we arrive at boldness because this hope “maketh not ashamed!” Perhaps the reason we fear to boldly proclaim our faith is that we haven’t fully developed it. We haven’t born the trials that build this kind of confidence and character.

 

1 Peter 5:10

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

 

Dear Lord, I know that you deliver my trials in measured amounts. Thank you for building character in me. Help me to be a good student. AMEN