Character Produces Hope, No Shame

…but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5 ESV)

Motivating Monday!

Character is everything. The Masters’ golf tournament concluded, 2018 winner is Patrick Reed. Earning the right to wear the prestigious, green blazer, tells how hard every winner has worked to win this tournament. Too bad articles have been written unfavorable about him, yet all seem to go back to questionable character. I know character is not a given and there are times we’d like to erase if we could. By looks of scripture, every time character is built, we’ve suffered and endured.

Choose Christ

Another example from last night, a former FB friend rudely interrupted a conversation I was in- during a school event. When I looked at her and said, “Hello.” She looked over at me and chose to turn her head. Character…I have many left thinking friends. We choose Christ’s love over hate. This person is left thinking and chose to display poor character. Lord, help me. Any time we point something out, God will test us.

Hope

The reason we want to develop good character, character produces hope. Hope in God, will never put us to shame. Love this…God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. I’d like to think rude people are lost people, yet, this is not true. Early in my refining process to the very last major test, I remember being brash, and arrogant. We never want negative press to taunt our winning moments or even daily life. There will always be someone who lives in the past, thinking people are not worthy of moving forward in life. This is the world’s way of interacting. God’s way is to forgive.

Character

God forgives all our sins, and we do sin. We constantly need to be in prayer mode, as we ask for forgiveness, we ready ourselves to hear God’s response. Keeping in mind today’s scripture, any suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope; suffering-endurance-character- hope. When we have these thoughts running through our head, there is no time to be rude. The difference is starling what we allow our mind to dwell on. Let’s be motivated, checking our character.

Be encouraged!