Have you stopped to think what it takes to become more like Jesus? As Christians, it should be our desire to become more like Him everyday. Do we understand what training (suffering) it takes to transform our lives into a life that is reflective of Him?
Ann Voskamp once said, “Practice is the hardest part of learning and training is the essence of transformation.” We live in a society that seeks transformation at any cost except for training. Americans jump on the diet and exercise bandwagons daily. People will go to any extent to find a shortcut to reach the outcomes that only training can provide.
My wife will make overnight oats so I have an easy breakfast before work the next day. Simply open the jar and eat. How convenient it is to start my day. Wouldn’t it be great if overnight we became like Jesus? How easy life would be if Christians could become like Jesus as fast as Clark Kent became superman. It simply just doesn’t work this way.
1 Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (NIV ) Godliness takes a lifetime of practice. Today’s blog post is the first of a four part series discussing the four C.O.R.E. essentials to godliness. This post will focus on C, which are circumstances.
Circumstances are the things we have to deal with in our ordinary life each day. Good or bad. Big or small. A statement I hear often concerning circumstances is “A loving God would not allow you to go through such a difficult circumstance.” I ask, why not?
In the Old Testament, Job experienced terrible circumstances. In Job 1:3, the Bible says he was the richest person in the entire area. He suffered physically and lost about everything he had. Job mentioned these words in 21:17-18, “Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. Do they ever have trouble? Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger? Are they driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like chaff? Not at all.” (NLT)
In the end, Job saw that the godly will suffer just as the ungodly. As followers of God, we cannot blame God as Job questioned his circumstances. We should see it as an opportunity for a loving God to see His people through a tough circumstance. God answered Job in 40:2, “Do you still want to argue with the almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” (NLT) We need to be careful asking the question why. Really – why not?
Genesis chapter 37 is the beginning of Joseph’s difficult circumstances in his life. Joseph was betrayed and deserted by his family in chapter 37. Joseph, as a young man, was exposed to sexual sin. Joseph had experienced imprisonment for doing what was right as he evaded Potiphar’s wife in chapter 39. Joseph seemed not able to catch a break.
Joseph was finally released from prison when asked to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Joseph went on to be the second in command in Egypt. God used Joseph’s circumstances to take him from the bragging dreamer, to a humble man who eventually saved the starving Israelites. We have to wonder what God may have in store for us.
Will you react in a negative way as Job? Or in a positive way as Joseph – knowing God was with him through his entire journey? Joseph expressed this to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me but God intended it all for good.” (NIV)
Being a Christian exempts us from only one thing – eternal damnation. We are going to experience pain and sorrow, just as non-Christians. However, we have a God to see us through, and He will use our circumstances to make us like Him. Hold on to this thought – we cannot change our circumstances, only the way we react to them.
1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)