Pressure Builds Character
Focus scripture: Romans 5:3-5 We glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. NKJ
I remember accepting Jesus the Christ as my Lord and saviour. It was then, in that season, that I truly came to understand the statement ‘ignorance is bliss’, and ‘with knowledge comes accountability.' For I had come into a knowledge, the truth of God and I desired to follow God in obedience. But the flesh in me wasn’t ready to submit, I was divided, part of me wanted to chase after God and another part of me wanted to remain in what I had classed as my best life. Through ignorance, at that time, in living for me I thought was free, I could do what I wanted to do, live by my own rules or should I say the subliminal rules subconsciously impressed upon us by worldly standards, which is in fact sin in the eyes of the Lord. I remember coming to a point of epiphany, ‘ignorance is bliss’ but ‘with knowledge comes accountability’ I wanted to do me, I wanted to be free, live life lavishly, sharing my body taking part in activities that should be reserved for holy matrimony. But the greatest love was chastising me. Calling me out of that darkness into a Marvelous light, the understanding that it is only within the stronghold of God’s love, by His grace can we truly be free. But we must desire His will and His transformative power to work within us. In Matthew 26:41 when Jesus returned from praying to find the disciples, not watching and praying as he had instructed, but asleep, said to them, ‘The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’. Jesus understood and knew that the disciples wanted to watch and pray, but the weakness of their flesh overpowered their spiritual desire. Therefore, Jesus urged them to watch and pray that they may not fall into temptation.
The word of God guides us to understand that everything written aforetime, is written for our learning that we, through patience and the comfort, and encouragement of scriptures may have hope. For all scripture has been given by God for instruction the training in righteousness, that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. The flesh and spirit are contrary to each other, both in continual conflict so, we do not always do the good that we are called to do. In my case I struggled with my sinful nature, particularly the innate desire of sexual relations. Which according to the word of God is sin, when performed outside of marriage. The word of the Lord instructs us to walk by the spirit and gives an assurance that when we do, we will not fulfil the lust of the flesh which is evidently portrayed through a life of adultery fornication, uncleanliness and indecent behaviour among many more woeful things noted in Galatians 5 19. Yet we the saints are urged to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no way for fulfilling the lust of the flesh.
The pressure is on! As a new believer, how do we adhere to such instruction, as a longstanding Christians how do we maintain this call. The answer is through Christ Jesus, and a wilful submission, a desire to do the will of our Heavenly Father. He is our strength and our power through His spirit we can overcome worldly desires. Through His Love, Holy Spirit and grace I was able to overvomr. Christ was born and walked this earth, God in the flesh, not only to redeems us but to show us the way. Matthew tells that he was exceedingly sorrowful, He found himself a place away from everyone, he fell on his face in prayer, due to the burden and said nevertheless not my will, but Your will Oh Father, let it be done. Christ went back to pray a second and a third time still willing that only Father God Almighty’s will be done. That is how we too overcome, by pressing through in prayer pleading nothing but the will of God in our lives. We can do all things in Christ Jesus for He has overcome the world and the things of it. For He makes our burdens light. We are overcomers but only if we put on the Lord Jesus Christ as Apostle Paul instructed. Yes, only if we put on righteousness, meekness, humility and patience through God’s grace we can be adorned with the fruit of the Spirit which develops a posture for the building of character. Pressure provides an opportunity us to see who we are becoming. Our Christian walk is a journey of edification and building, from strength to strength, from glory to glory, always a greater measure of God’s goodness. We have been called out of the world, and directed to be the light and the salt, We as Christians are to stand out with a righteous, notable difference. Light illuminates the darkness. Salt preserves, not only that, when salt is absent a dish becomes flavourless, that ingredient is truly missed. When salt is present it is undeniable. Let the presence of our Great Lord upon your life be undeniable, through the tribulation let the pressure continually develop within you a pressing toward the hope of a higher calling in Christ Jesus.
Pressure builds character, so we glory in our difficult times, times of sickness, times of lack, time of misunderstanding, time of not knowing and times of transformation, for we know that these trials, and times of great tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance produces character; and character, produces hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
So in the crushing in the pressing when pressure builds we have a hope, we have an understanding that our great Lord is doing a good work so we must position ourselves to be aligned with Him that his good works may be performed through us.
In the mighty name of Jesus
Scriptures for reflection:
Romans 13:14 avoid sin be adorned in Christ
Roman 14:4, 2 Timothy 2 16-17 Thing written previously are for our benefit today
Galatians 5:17 – the flesh and the spirit are not friends
Mathew 5:14-13 – preserve the good and reveal the truth
Psalms 84:7, 2 Corinthians 3:18 - grow from strength to strength, glory to glory