We also celebrate in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patience, patience produces a well-formed character, and a character like that produces hope. Romans 5:3-4
Suffering, no one likes to go through it, but according to this verse, it is what helps us develop patience. You know that virtue that most of us could use more of. But like a muscle that only happens when it is challenged and worked. Every time we face a long line, stopped traffic, being put on hold, someone offends us, etc. our patience is being challenged and if we respond to it, it will develop. If we choose to react to it, it will still develop, but more slowly, which will lead to more challenges. When we discipline ourselves to endure the challenge, we will find it’s growth very beneficial to us. And another thing will develop, our character?
Character, who you are when you’re alone and nobody’s looking. For most people, that’s a scary thought, because most of us don’t like who they are. It stems from what professionals call Cognitive Dissonance, which is when the core person you are is different from the one you are being. This happens when we try to be who others want us to be so they will like us or so they will do what we want. That is also the reason many people have a hard time spending time alone with God, because we can’t pull the wool over His eyes or lie to Him, He knows it all!
Today’s verse reminds us that patience only develops when we suffer and this combination helps us develop a godly character. But only when we are honest with ourselves, especially in the presence of God, will we develop the hope that is only found in a relationship with Him. That hope that we’re assured we will receive what we are expecting, because we know we are loved by Abba Father and we can trust Him.
The reason we can do this, is because Jesus is our example of the relationship we should have with our heavenly Father. Jesus reminded us that when we see Him we see our Father and we can know who He truly is. This past Father’s Day we encouraged men to look to Jesus for the example of the best Father ever. Why? Not because He is was a father, but because He was obedient to His Father, God. This gives men hope, that they don’t have to try to be a father in their humanness, but they can follow Jesus’ example and show our Abba Father in their own lives and to those around them.
Jesus could be obedient and show our Father’s heart, because He knew how much Abba Father loves Him and because of a godly trait called “meekness”. The definition today is much different then in Biblical times. Today when we hear it we think of weakness, timidness and general cowering. But that’s a far cry from what Jesus exhibited, in simple terms it means strength under control. So when we say we want to be like Jesus, we need to know what we’re saying. So over the next week we will see the true meaning of what it means to be meek and how when we do, we will have a new and more assured hope.
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