As we have seen in the last two devotionals, the Bible teaches very clearly that God allows problems to come into our lives for a purpose. There is someone who created you and is still in the process of shaping your attitudes, your character, your thoughts, your emotions, your speech, and your actions. He has not finished shaping your life. So He allows problems to come into your life to teach you things about yourself and about others. Several days ago we looked at the first purpose and found that problems purify your faith. Two days ago we looked at the second purpose God has in mind with these trials and difficult times and found that the second purpose is to shape your character. Today we want to look at the third purpose. The third purpose is to lead me toward maturity.
Three purposes of problems in your life:
1) Problems purify your faith.
2) Problems shape your character.
3) Problems lead me toward maturity.
Problems lead me toward maturity. Problems provide an opportunity to make me more like Jesus. They help me to grow.
Let’s take another look at this passage in James 1:2-4.
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
Notice the phrase in this passage, “…testing … that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Being mature and complete…..That’s God’s long range goal for your life. His ultimate purpose for you is maturity. God’s number one purpose in your life is to make you like Jesus Christ. God is much more interested in building your character and helping you mature than in making you comfortable. If you are in a circumstance that makes you very uncomfortable, God says, I have put that situation before you to shape your life. Maybe you think it is about the other person but you are wrong. It is about you and your relationship with God and about how you relate to other people. God wants to teach you to love people whom He sends into your life. In order to make you a more loving person, He sends people and situations into your life to give you an opportunity to love them the way that Christ wants you to love them.
There were times when Jesus was lonely, tired, tempted to be depressed and discouraged, feeling attacked, falsely accused, but He always reflected maturity and self control. The Bible says there are two ways that God makes us more like Jesus: I want you to hear this clearly today. How does God make us more like Jesus?
1) Through the Word of God. John 17:17 “Sanctify them through Thy truth. Thy word is truth.” But even if you read the Bible two hours a day, and yet do not apply what you have read, it is of no benefit leads to the temptation to think you are more spiritual and mature that someone else. But maturity has nothing to do with knowledge, but everything to do with application.
How does God make us more like Jesus? 1) God makes me more like Jesus through the Word of God. 2) God makes us more like Jesus through the circumstances of life that He gives us to encounter.
Here’s where James hits it right on the head. You see, when you become a Christian, that doesn’t mean that everything will go well for you, but what it does mean is that you have now entered a character course of life with the purpose to make you more like Jesus. Life is a test. You’re in a character course. He’s making you like Jesus. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:3-5,
“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
God makes me more like Jesus through the circumstances of life that He give me to encounter. Notice also what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 8:28-29,
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:28-29
The Bible is clear. God makes me more like Jesus through the circumstances of life that He give me to encounter.
If God wants to teach you love better, He puts you around unlovely people. If He wants to teach you joy, He puts you in times of tragedy and sadness so you will learn joy in the situation. If God wants to teach you peace, God puts you around chaos. If God wants to teach you patience, God puts you through times of waiting.
The question for your heart today is not, “how do I get out of these circumstances?” But the question for your heart today is, “How would Jesus want me respond to these circumstances that would reflect His love?
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In your prayers remember to pray for God’s Work here in Northern Thailand.
Please remember to pray for our growing ministry to Chinese students that come to Thailand to study at two universities here in Chiang Rai. Over the past 16 months we have seen many Chinese students come to know Jesus. God is using our “English Corner” ministry at the university, our church, and our English language school as a tool to reach and disciple these folks.
God has now opened a door for our first “mission trip” into China through our language school in about 6 weeks.
We are also praying for God to raise up an ethnic Chinese person who speaks English well to come out and serve as our “Chinese Ministry Coordinator.” Please pray for the finances and personnel needed to really impact these precious Chinese for Jesus.
Reaching, Teaching, Discipling, Equipping, Training, and Serving God’s World in compassionate ways is what NTIM, Baan Athitaan Church, and Grace Language School are all about. www.gontim.org