Constant Character Development

I realized today how true it is that the conforming of my character is less an event and more of a constant conforming. Every minute of every day is an oppurtunity for me to grow and learn and master sin before it masters me. My conversations are a key indicator as to how well my character is conforming. Is my conversation grace filled and God centered or full of complaining and frustrations? The answer shows where I am at today in submitting to God and becoming the person I need to be to handle the rewards and responsibilities He has for me.

Preparation

What is taking place today is somehow preparing me for tomorrow. The bible says if we are faithful with little its a sign that we can be faithful with more. We spend so much time wanting more but so very little time being faithful where we are at. You may not be everyone's first choice for a lot of things, and thats ok. You just need to be faithful with the things God has called you to do. Satan always wants us to bypass suffering,obedience, and the cross,and he will promise us the world if we do. So what is the consequence if we accept Satan's offer? We never grow into the person God wants us to be. We fail to become christ like. So whatever your cross, pick it up and follow Jesus.

Character Development in the Garden

Last Tuesday afternoon on October 25th God really spoke to my life regarding life's purpose as a Christian. What is that purpose? Developing and conforming our character to that of His Son's. God can use every situation, ever event, every delay, every insecurity, every frustration, to shape my character, to mold it, so I can bring Glory to Him and handle rightly the things He has in store for those that love Him.

So why did God leave the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden? I think so Adam could learn obedience. Obedience is the major key to character development in God's Kingdom. Adam was to learn obedience by not eating of the tree. God said eat whatever else you want but stay away from that tree. We learn from Eve, that the tree was appealing, it looked good to the eye. However, God said don't eat. We know from the story that Adam and Eve eventually did eat of the Tree. At that moment what happened was their character was corrupted with disobedience, and sin entered into creation, and death followed. I think a good definition of  our sin nature is really a corrupted character. 

Even in The Garden, before the fall of Man, it seems like God was interested in developing Man's Character. How much more then after the fall, do we need God to develop our Character?

So here is my challenge consider the possibility that God is at work developing your character for His purpose with ,every situation, every challenge, every delay, every set back. I think if you take that the view that God is at work conforming you to be like Christ, you will discover a new determination to face life's daily challenges. 

As a matter of fact don't even think of them as challenges, just opportunities for God to more fully develop your character, and preparing you for what is to come.

Until next time,

blessings

Pastor Marty

Obedience and Suffering has a Purpose

I have been greatly encouraged by a friend to start blogging about an insight regarding scripture,suffering,obedience, and really one of the greatest purposes of life in Christ. It's based on Romans 8:29. I have really wondered why it has taken me so long to see this. What is God trying to teach us? Why did Christ come? How can I better understand scripture? What is God doing in my life and what does He want to do. Romans 8:29 gives us an insight to those questions. God is at work shaping and conforming my character to that of His Son Jesus Christ. Let's be practical for a moment and explain the concept. Why am I going through what I am at the moment?Answer, christ like character development. God is using every event of life to shape my character to be like His Son. That means suffering has a purpose, obedience has a point. God is preparing my character for greater things, He is transforming my corrupted character to a Christ like one. So if you ask me what is God doing in my life,my answer would be character development. Which part of your character? Thats betweeen the person and God. So whatever you are going through, I know this biblical fact,God is conforming your character to Christ's. I will talk more about this in my upcoming blogs.