The Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

 “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is

love [unselfish concern for others],

 joy [inner] peace,

patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting],

 kindness,

goodness,

 faithfulness,

 gentleness,

 self-control.

  Against such things there is no law.”

(Galatians 5:22-23)

1)     The quality of Faithfulness

Faithfulness is the quality that keeps an individual loyal to someone like God or others.  It is putting loyalty into practice consistently regardless of extenuating circumstances. Looking at this definition are you not glad God is faithful to us?  We, I think, can honestly say we all have failed to be faithful to him.

 

2)     Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Let us not fool ourselves into thinking that we will ever be faithful to him on our own.  There is not an ounce or a gram of faithfulness in us apart from Jesus by His Spirit in us.  On our own we will fall short.  But Jesus was obedient unto death. “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) (ESV).

There is no way you can be faithful to God or anyone without Jesus.  You need him so quit trying.  Furthermore, it you claim to be faithful to God you are taking the credit for your salvation and God does not like that.

 

3)     We cannot do it on our own

The Fruit of the Spirit has more to do with God in us and it is humbling to see him at work in us.  We are utterly incapable (in a spiritual sense) to even tie up our shoes properly) we need so much of his help in everything we do.  Please don’t let another day go by thinking that you are more important than someone else.  You matter to God!