Being Faithful – It is What God Expects from Us!
Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
We’re starting back up this week examining the Fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5 – today we will deal with the seventh fruit listed – faithfulness.
What do you think of when you hear the word faithfulness? I first think of the vows we share at our marriages – to be faithful until death do us part. Throughout the Bible the relationship between Jesus and the church is compared to that of the groom and the bride. I like the love and passion shown for the church in this one.
Isaiah 62:5 – As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
Any time we sin – we are being unfaithful to a faithful God. We are committing spiritual adultery any time we take up with Satan – and sin. God expects faithfulness from us. God calls us to live faithfully in relationship with Him.
We are called to be faithful – to clothe ourselves with this fruit – to let our lives exemplify a life of faithfulness. As the New Year unfolds – how about joining me and pledging to God to be faithful?
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
Kindness and Goodness – Natural or Not – We are to be like-minded with Christ
Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
We’re starting back up this week examining the Fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5 – today we will deal with the fifth and sixth fruits listed – kindness & goodness.
What do you think of when you hear the words kindness and goodness? A few verses before the Gifts of the Spirit are listed in Galatians 5 we read the following words.
Galatians 5:6 – For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
When I think of kindness and goodness – I think of the heart of Christ. It is often contrary to my heart. I am not by nature a mercy person. I can express mercy – but only because of the grace of God – it isn’t from my natural fabric. The heart of God – the heart of Christ is seen best – for me – in the following passage.
Philippians 2:1-5 – 1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
If we have any tenderness and compassion – we are to be like-minded with Christ – showing kindness and goodness to others. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Thinking of others first is what comes to mind when I think of kindness and goodness. It may not be part of our natural fabric – but it is what we are to strive to be – being like-minded with Christ. Asking ourselves over and over – What Would Jesus Do?
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
Patience – Do You Have Mature or Immature Fruit?
Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Happy day before Christmas Eve – lol! Some have today off – some have tomorrow off. I hope we all have Saturday off. As we continue through the week – examining the Fruits of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5 – today we will deal with the fourth fruit listed – patience.
I should skip this one – because patience is not one of my few virtues. I am a typical tech junkie. I like things fast and quick. If I have to wait for something to load on my computer – it is time to get a new computer. Having said that – there are times I have had to overcome my natural non-patient self and show patience. Most of us will struggle with one or more of the fruits. We are not perfect. Some fruits in our lives will be immature and all need improvement.
In the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible – the Greek Word translated as patience in the New International Version is translated as longsuffering. In The Message we read – we develop a willingness to stick with things.
Colossians 3:12-14 – 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
I like the concept of clothing yourself with the fruits of the spirit. When I get up in the morning – I don’t have the clothes on I will wear that day – I have to put them on. When naturally I am missing some of the fruits – or have very immature fruit at best – I should seek after God and ask to be clothed in His righteousness. And as Paul says – do this in the love of God that binds us together.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
Do you Want Temporal Peace or Eternal Peace?
Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
We continue through this week – examining the Fruits of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5. Today we will deal with the third fruit listed – peace. Peace is something that most of us search for – even yearn for – in our lives.
What is it that brings you peace? I could talk about temporal peace – much like happiness – and say that it is circumstantially driven. Some peace comes over us when the circumstances line up properly. A measure of peace comes over us when we have completed our finals – a large project – our education – after a big family gathering. Eternal or spiritual peace comes from our relationship with God.
Job 22:21 – “Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.”
This passage suggests that peace comes from submitting to God. It is derived from our walk with our Lord. Jesus even talks about this peace with His disciples – as recorded by the Apostle John.
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The world only knows how to offer temporal peace – circumstantially driven peace. God can give deep down peace – everlasting peace – eternal peace – peace derived from our walk with God. Even in the face of death we can fear no evil – now that is peace.
Psalm 23:4 – Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Our relationship with God brings peace. With that said – if we desire true peace – we need to enhance – build – our relationship with God. Walking in the Lord – in the ways and teachings of God – brings us peace. And all of this is through Christ – who bore our sins on the cross of Calvary. Our debt is paid – now that brings us peace – real peace.
Romans 5:1 – Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
The Joy of the Lord is Greater than a Moment of Happiness
Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Today we continue with our examination of the Fruits of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5. I believe a good attitude and the level of love we show in our life goes a long way in expressing the maturity of our faith. Some wise pastor once said – Christianity boils down to attitude.
The second fruit listed is joy. Joy is not the same as happiness. I’m sure some of you remember the saying I coined that says happiness is circumstantially driven, while joy is spiritually derived. Happiness is all about the moment – my team won and I am happy – I got a new job and I am happy – my car slid down the driveway into the woods and I am not happy – it isn’t totaled and will be repaired and I am happy again. Joy is something that runs deeper than circumstantially driven happiness. It is derived from a relationship with Jesus.
This passage from Romans speaks volumes about the joy we have in Christ.
Romans 5:1-5 – 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
The joy we have in Christ – is greater than the circumstances that pervade our lives.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
Love One Another! It Will Help Your Attitude!
Galatians 5:22-26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Over the next few days we will examine the Fruits of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5. We just took a few days to look at attitude – and several have remarked at how those hit home. Our love quotient goes a long way toward having the right attitude my friends.
The first fruit listed is love. Love is THE most important of the fruits – because without love we could have all the rest – all of the fruits and gifts of the Spirit – and something would still be missing.
1 Corinthians 13:2 – If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
We are called to imitate Christ and the love He showed us.
Ephesians 5:1-2 – 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
The commandments were summed up by Jesus with a heavy dose of love.
Mark 12:30-31 – 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Today – and throughout the rest of our lives – we should be working on being more loving. Allowing the fruit of love to invade our very being. For some that is easier – because it is their nature to be loving. For some – this will be a task – but it will help us produce a better attitude and will help us be a better witness for Christ.
Love one another – even as Christ loved us.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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