May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation “the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ” for this will bring much glory and praise to God. – Philippians 1:11

It has been a while since my last blog entry, on “How Hater’s Help”, where we used the story of Joseph’s life to show how haters help us get out of our comfort zones. Now we want to further delve into the reason why getting out of our comfort zones are so important. God often uses uncomfortable situations to develop Godly characteristics in His children.

Psalm 105:16-19
16 He called for a famine on the land of Canaan,
cutting off its food supply.
17 Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them”
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with fetters
and placed his neck in an iron collar.
19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,
the Lord tested Joseph’s character.

The scriptures show us that Joseph had great opposition after his “Haters”, sold him into slavery. As if being a slave wasn’t hard enough, we then see Joseph go through a series of tramatic events. I wonder if Joseph asked, “Can things get any worse?”. He went from slave, to being accused of rape, to prisoner and when each event was triggered Joseph had done nothing wrong. Talk about trying a persons character. I know if I were in his shoes, I would have wanted to scream, “I’m Innocent! You Idiots!”. How do you react when you are wrongly accused? When people misunderstand your intentions, would you say you exude Godly characteristics? When people intentionally try and misuse you do you bless them like the scriptures say we should? In our story we see that in each situation Joseph found himself, he represented his God well.

The epitome of Godly character is displayed to us by Jesus¹. Think about it. He came to His creation and was accussed of being the devil, a drunk, a blasphemer, and eventually executed. One of the rewards for receiving Him into our lives is the promise that the Spirit of God, will work in us, to develop Godly characteristics. Unfortunately, those characteristics don’t come without testing and more importantly our faith grows through these trials. So when things get difficult don’t throw your hands in the air and think, “Why Me Again” as if God has a thing for causing you mental pain². But instead ask the Lord, “How are you trying to grow my character, today Lord?”. Take it as an opportunity to understand how Christ must have felt, and embrace the fact that you are being conformed into His image³.

Don’t allow “Haters” or lifes situations to get you to take your eyes off the prize, which is found in Christ. (Philippians 4:13)

Previous Messages
How Haters Help
How Haters Help: Comfort Zones

Upcoming Messages:
Haters Help Us Achieve our purpose.

References:

3. Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was [a]aware and [b]loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. – Amplified Bible++