Fruit of the Spirit: Shining Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control

APPLICATION ARTICLE | T. Sean Sullivan | Paragould, Arkansas

Introduction
There is a lifetime of achievement in gaining all the blessings of God’s way. Each of us has our own time to walk, and no one has a guaranteed tomorrow (James 4:14). The application of the attitudes and actions involved in bearing the fruit of the Spirit is our responsibility. The results will significantly bless our soul’s hope and allow us to “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15-16).

Let’s continue to consider a life of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, and goodness, growing consistently with faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let’s discover the value of these blessings and shine them brightly for all others to see.

Shining the Light of Faithfulness
There is much to do, and faithfulness, practically speaking, requires consistent doing. The will of God is a life-long pursuit. We can certainly gain a proper understanding of God’s expectations and rejoice in our reconciliation with Him in a shorter period of time. However, the achievement of doing the will of God requires our faithfulness all the days of our life.

Some scriptures greatly challenge us. For example, in Matthew 5:48, Jesus compares us to God the Father. We are told “God is faithful” in the New Testament three times. From these passages, we learn of God’s absolute dependability. 1 Corinthians 1:9, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 2 Corinthians 1:18, “But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No.” These three uses of “God is faithful” communicate the standard, and we spend our lives seeking to imitate our Father in Heaven. We will certainly not be as perfectly faithful and always infallibly dependable as the Father. Still, we can strive to be more like Him in this way.

We need to be faithful to God. We are serving Him diligently, not sporadically (2 Peter 3:10-14). Drawing ever nearer to Him so that He can be nearer to us (James 4:8). We need to be faithful to our families, providing for them as we should (1 Timothy 5:8). Leading our children with consistency (Ephesians 6:1-4). We need to be faithful to our spiritual family, being there for one another (Romans 12:10-13). Encouraging and helping each other through all of life’s “ups” and “downs” (Romans 12:15). We need to be dependable to our fellow man, shining the light of truth to provide them hope (Mark 16:15-16). If we are determined to shine the light of faithfulness, we will be a great blessing to others around us.

Before we move on from this point, please know that “others” does not only mean alien sinners trapped out there in the doom of darkness. Our light of faithfulness needs to be seen by our children, family, and brethren. We need to rise and shine the light of faithfulness every day.

Shining the Light of Gentleness
Many opinions will be waged in the battle to define gentleness. We must first gain knowledge of the goal to gain a proper application. The original Greek is ‘prautees’ (NT:4240), “patient suffering of injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge, an even balance of all tempers and passions, the entire opposite of anger” (from Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1996 by Biblesoft). Gentleness is focusing on “evenly balancing our tempers” – this is our characteristic of “calm” and “collected.” If we are going to live a life of gentleness and let its light shine from us, we are going to have to be temperate, controlled, and fully trusting in God.

The requirement of gentleness on God’s pathway does not ask us to be cowardly or weak. The gentleness of God’s way is much like what Jesus shared with Pilate in the Praetorium, in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” We do not spread the gospel by force or retaliate against its opponents with carnal measures.

We shine the light of gentleness to guide others toward safety and refuge from the storms of sin that make turmoil in their lives, to offer the help of the gospel, and the hope of a proper relationship with our Creator (Matthew 28:18-20). If we are determined to shine the light of gentleness, we will be a great blessing to others around us.

Before we move on from this point, please know that “others” does not only mean alien sinners trapped out there in the doom of darkness. Our light of gentleness needs to be seen by our children, family, and brethren. Every day, we need to rise and shine the light of gentleness.

Shining the Light of Self-Control
We are to be the living proof of God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will (Romans 12:2). There is a prevailing and unfortunate mindset toward God’s role in our lives today. Far too many believe that God has everything already charted out and that no step is taken without His divine direction. To answer every problem this false understanding creates would be a long endeavor, so for the sake of time, please know that this is not how life works. We are all blessed with free will. We have the right to choose for ourselves, act on our own choices, and bear good or bad consequences. Our free will does not end with our obedience to the gospel; it can keep us where we need to be, in a proper relationship with God.

We, by our own choices, must maintain “righteousness” to experience the way of life God has directed us toward; this requires determination. Look again at Hebrews 10:35-39 and note the actions involved: endurance, doing the will of God, not drawing back. We push onward and upward to the saving of the soul. This focus on self-control is linked to our ultimate success. There are many reminders of our need to maintain righteousness through self-control: Matthew 16:24, “…deny himself, and take up his cross…” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “…I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6-10, “put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of salvation…to obtain salvation.” When we gain control of ourselves, we will be better able to avoid the pitfalls of sin. We will shine the light of self-control for others to see so they can overcome this world’s temptations and sins (1 John 2:15-17). If we are determined to shine the light of self-control, we will be a great blessing to others around us.

Before we move on from this point, please know that “others” does not only mean alien sinners trapped out there in the doom of darkness. Our light of self-control needs to be seen by our children, family, and brethren. Every day, we need to rise and shine the light of self-control.

Conclusion:
Imagine waking up each morning to a life of love—you love others, and they love you. You have a family who loves and respects you. Others around you know that you care and return care to you. Your life is joyful. Yes, bad days still occur, but you have a sureness of deep-set joy because of this life’s true and enduring things and beyond. You are not waiting for the next superficial rise to make you “feel” happy, your faith and commitments carry you through whatever life dishes out.

You know peace in your life—the same peace that allowed you to sleep calmly last night. The peace that results from knowing your place in this life, your role in your family, and the family of God (Ephesians 3:15). In your life, you can act patiently in all circumstances because your perspective on life is certain, sure, and better than those who do not fear God. You can be patient because you know the dangers of allowing the trivial things of this life to overshadow the truly important things. Every day you reflect warmth and extend true kindness to all those around you. Kindness is true compassion for others’ needs. Your desire to encourage, uplift and aid others and you have the ability to fulfill it.

Upon close examination, all motivations underlying your actions are pure and true. You are indeed a “good” person. You are determined to seek, offer, and live by God’s standard of “goodness.” In all of your conduct and ventures, one thing is steady and true—your faith.

You know that “faith comes by hearing the word of God” (Romans 10:17). It is because of your faith that you “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6). You are faithfully committed to being faithful to God, your family, and all of your responsibilities. In all of this, you are watching your steps. You walk in a careful and controlled fashion to ensure that you are not taking any missteps (Ephesians 5:15-17).

This is the life of a Christian, bearing the fruit of the Spirit. It is the best life and only gets better when we share it with our children, family, and everyone! Live God’s way. Let it shine for the whole world to see so they may also seek and find!

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April 2023 | GROW magazine