Jul 2, 2017 00:00
Faithfulness
A faithful person is one with real integrity. He or she is someone others can look to as an example, and someone who is truly devoted to others and Christ. Our natural self always wants to be in charge, but Spirit-controlled faithfulness is evident in the life of a person who seeks good for others and glory for God.
Faith (faithfulness) "O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." – Isaiah 25:1. "…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,… – Ephesians 3:16-17.
Question: Are there areas of hypocrisy and indifference towards others in my life, or is my life characterized by faith in Christ and faithfulness to those around me?
Gentleness
Meekness is not weakness. Gentleness is not without power, it just chooses to defer to others. It forgives others, corrects with kindness, and lives in tranquility.
Meekness - "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." – Gal 6:1
"with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love," – Ephesians 4:2
Question: Do I come across to others as brash and headstrong, or am I allowing the grace of God to flow through me to others?
Self-control
Our fleshly desires, Scripture tells us, are continually at odds with God's Spirit and always want to be in charge. Self-control is literally releasing our grip on the fleshly desires, choosing instead to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. It is power focused in the right place.
ALSO CALLED Temperance (self-control) "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love." – 2 Peter 1:5-7
Question: Are my fleshly desires controlling my life, or am I allowing the Spirit to direct me to the things that please God and serve others?
