Day 9. He is our Kindness

The fruit of the Spirit is---kindness (Galatians 5:22)

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, he saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6).

But in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, ---- in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God (2 Corinthians 6;4a, 6,7a).

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love (2 Peter 1:5-7).

Lord, Your love will cause me to reach out in patience and kindness toward all men. The new creation within me desperately wants this act to be fulfilled, and I will respond in faith. Your kindness is beyond measure—I can only express what portion You provide for me. I will be tested when I encounter the impatient, those who ridicule, those that are angry, and all that seek only the pleasures of the world. Sadly, I will also need this kindness among my brothers in Christ when there is misunderstanding and wounded feelings. But I trust that Jesus, whose kindness stands firm, will know when and how to guide me toward an expression of His nature.

Today Lord, there is need beyond our comprehension for kindness on this earth. We face overwhelming challenges to reach out to the poor, the prisoners, the widows, the depressed and all those who are misguided by the lusts of the world.
We may reach out in word or deed, but in either case it is by faith in Jesus.
Kindness can break through all these barriers. You would go with us if we would only venture out into the unknown. Yes, there is risk, but Your Son Jesus has taken the supreme risk when He laid down His life for us. You can handle all challenges. Let me express Your kindness today, Lord. There are friends as well as strangers awaiting me. Let me do it the name of Jesus. Amen.






Day 10. He is our Goodness

The fruit of the Spirit is--- goodness (Galatians 5:22).

And Jesus said to him, ”Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone (Luke 18:19).

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21).

To this end also we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

Lord, I know that You are the only one who is good. We are so prone to describe ourselves and our actions with this word, but You alone have established the true mark of goodness. Only the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb, Jesus, has made that goodness available to us. We claim it by faith in Him.

Yes, I want to be a good servant. This will not mean that I need to win the approval of my fellowman, nor do I need to tell him only what he wants to hear. I know that I can not earn or deserve goodness. The Spirit will point to the ultimate goodness of Jesus. I will not try to stir up my ideas of goodness, but I will wait to hear from You. I may find myself reaching out to others with a word of encouragement, or even what we might call tough love; all for the sole purpose of helping them find the good way in You.

First I will need to remove the log from my own eye. Your Spirit constantly probes my conscience, my spirit, my mind, and my prayer life to reveal the good way for me to follow. In contrast, the world beckons with temporary and shallow ways that only have the appearance of good. But I will allow You to make the absolute test—only paths that produce your goodness will open before me. For the master of all goodness, Jesus, walks with me. Thank you Lord for the gift of Your goodness. Amen.










Day 11. He is our Faithfulness

The fruit of the Spirit is--- faithfulness (Galatians 5:22).

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:17a).

A faithful man will abound with blessings (Proverbs 28:20a).

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house (Hebrews 3:1,2).

Father in heaven, I thank you for the gift of faith. You have been faithful for all time, and You have placed me in Jesus in response to my faith placed in Him. He becomes my faithfulness, even though I have often acted in unfaith when I drifted aside from Your will. You are faithful to watch over me and to offer guidance on a straight path, although the world beckons with twists and turns that would lead me astray.

You have convinced me that it has always been by faith. Abraham believed You long before there was the Law. I cannot improve myself by striving after the Law, it will only break me and cause me to sin more. Instead, Your way of faith places my burden on Jesus. I marvel at how He can be present to carry me through this life-- all the while speaking softly to me and showing me His ways. Why do I not always respond to His Spirit? It can only be because I do not always trust in Him.

Today, Lord, I count on You to renew my faith, and to search my mind for thoughts that would cause me to ignore Your presence. You were faithful to provide my salvation. You were faithful to give me a new life. So I count on You to teach me the faithful way to walk this day. Thank You, in the name of Jesus. Amen.











Day 12. He is our Gentleness

The fruit of the Spirit is----gentleness (Galatians 5:22).

Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! (2 Corinthians 10:1).

And the Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:24,25).

Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do that which is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus (Philemon 8,9).

Oh Jesus, when I think of You as meek and mild, gentle in Spirit, I can only marvel at the controlled strength that You show. Surely You have the power to exercise righteous judgment and wrath over us, yet You seek the gentle way to correct us. Your love would rather urge us in an appealing way. Surely Your Spirit is available to us to do the very same thing as we contact those around us. I need to show consideration and love to others and not be so quick to point out what I consider to be flaws. Your Spirit senses what my fellowman needs, and He alone knows how to reach out and lead them to the truth. My definitions of truth often tend to be limited and self-centered. Teach me Your gentleness.

I know this will not lead me to compromise the truth among those who disagree with me. I can stand for truth and still do it in a loving way. Sometimes Your way will seem to be hard, but afterwards it will produce the fruit of love. I need only to accept by faith that You are at work within me, and that You will remind me of the proper things to do. Together we are a lamp unto the world, and Your word will show the way to the truth. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
 

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