Patience
Patience is the hardest thing we have to do. It is never easy to wait, but it is one of the most important things we will ever do. When we start working on a project, it will not be completed or successful overnight. Overnight successes are never successful over night. Successful people work for years on their particular talent. Famous actresses work hard and wait to become television, movie, or Broadway stars. Olympic gold medalists train for years before they get the chance to compete in the Olympics. Those who attend college cannot show up one day and get their degree the next. Anyone who wants to succeed needs to patiently work hard and never give up.
This is a lesson that I have learned. My dream is to write for a living. Although I always had the ability to write, I had to patiently wait to develop a writing career.
First, I had to practice writing every day. Next, I had to write and publish my writing for free through blogs. Finally, in the near future, I will complete my book and sell it for profit. Right now, I am patiently waiting as I work on my writing, but I get better every time I finish an article, blog, or story. My dream will come true, but only because I am willing to wait.
Kindness
David did not owe Mephibosheth (Saul's grandson; Jonathon's son) anything, but he decided to show kindness to Jonathon's son due to their friendship. This is a wonderful example of kindness. Yet, kindness is even more special when the person is unkind to us. Yes, we need to show our friends kindness, but we also need to show kindness to those who are mean and repulsive.
The greatest story I know is the one about Jesus. He came to earth and died for our sins. That is a kindness that is beyond comprehension. Jesus came to die for people that ridiculed Him and spat in His face. His kindness gives us the freedom we need to live purpose-filled, successful lives.
Goodness
What does goodness mean? Goodness is exactly what it says it is in 2 Peter 1:4-8. The following are a list of principles that define goodness. Goodness is escaping from the moral decay, staying away from covetousness, and developing virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and Christian love. None of us are perfect, so God gave us this list that we can work on.
When we work on improving ourselves, we need to have this list with us. At first, we need to work on only one of the principles listed above. After we have conquered that principle, we need to start working on the next principle. Little by little, we will become good and pleasing to God
Faithfulness
The scripture above is all about our faithfulness to God, but, when we are faithful to God, we can be faithful to our fellowman. In Hebrews 12:28, it talks about us receiving a firm and stable kingdom, which cannot be shaken. This is what we need to keep in mind when we are tempted to act unfaithfully.
This faithfulness to God means serving and worshipping Him. Prayer and meditation is a great way to learn faithfulness. Studying God's Word is another way to not only learn faithfulness, but also to show our faithfulness. Faithfulness is learned as we grow spiritually, so we need to use service, worship, prayer and meditation, and studying God's Word as a studying tool. The more we study the more faithfulness we are able to display to God and others.
Gentleness
Gentleness is expressed beautifully in I Peter 3:9. It says that we should pray for the welfare, happiness, and protection for our brother and sisters. We need to treat people with tenderness. When people are having problems, even if they take them out on us, we need to sympathize and not lash out at them.
When we show gentleness to others, we are working on obtaining blessings. This includes our prosperity as heirs, our welfare, happiness, and protection. Although we should be gentle with people whether we get a reward or not, it's nice to know that our efforts have a reward.
Self-control
When we think of self-control, we usually think of people who get into fist fights and get extremely violent. This isn't all that is included in self-control. Self-control also includes "…sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness…" (Colossians 3:5). In this scripture, we learn that anything that does not please God is idolatry. We need to control ourselves when those temptations come up.
One of the problems that I need to control is over-eating. Most of my life, I have struggled to control myself around food. There are times that I can enforce self-control when I am around food, but, other times I really struggle. This has caused an ongoing weight problem, which I know is not pleasing to God. Every day, I work to get better and learn more self-control.
The point of this blog is to teach us the importance of working on us and not looking at everyone else's faults. This can be done by learning the fruits of the Spirit, which need to replace the fruits of the flesh. Although we were born sinners, we are now free to work on personal development that will help us through this life and into eternity.
This week's challenge is to identify the fruits of the flesh, learn the fruits of the Spirit, and work on increasing the fruits of the Spirit and decreasing the fruits of the flesh. This will cause the greatest success of all. Not only will we be able to succeed at our relationships, careers, and personal life, but we will be able to develop a relationship with God that will be an example to everyone around us.
"So be patient, brethren, [as you wait] till the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits expectantly for the precious harvest from the land. [See how] he keeps up his patient [vigil] over it until it receives the early and late rains."
James 5:7
James 5:7
Patience is the hardest thing we have to do. It is never easy to wait, but it is one of the most important things we will ever do. When we start working on a project, it will not be completed or successful overnight. Overnight successes are never successful over night. Successful people work for years on their particular talent. Famous actresses work hard and wait to become television, movie, or Broadway stars. Olympic gold medalists train for years before they get the chance to compete in the Olympics. Those who attend college cannot show up one day and get their degree the next. Anyone who wants to succeed needs to patiently work hard and never give up.
This is a lesson that I have learned. My dream is to write for a living. Although I always had the ability to write, I had to patiently wait to develop a writing career.
First, I had to practice writing every day. Next, I had to write and publish my writing for free through blogs. Finally, in the near future, I will complete my book and sell it for profit. Right now, I am patiently waiting as I work on my writing, but I get better every time I finish an article, blog, or story. My dream will come true, but only because I am willing to wait.
Kindness
"David said to him, Fear not, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your Father's sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father [grandfather], and you shall eat at my table always."
II Samuel 9:7
II Samuel 9:7
David did not owe Mephibosheth (Saul's grandson; Jonathon's son) anything, but he decided to show kindness to Jonathon's son due to their friendship. This is a wonderful example of kindness. Yet, kindness is even more special when the person is unkind to us. Yes, we need to show our friends kindness, but we also need to show kindness to those who are mean and repulsive.
The greatest story I know is the one about Jesus. He came to earth and died for our sins. That is a kindness that is beyond comprehension. Jesus came to die for people that ridiculed Him and spat in His face. His kindness gives us the freedom we need to live purpose-filled, successful lives.
Goodness
"By means of these He has bestowed on us his precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.
For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence),
And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),
And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love.
For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
2 Peter 1:4-8
For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence),
And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),
And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love.
For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
2 Peter 1:4-8
What does goodness mean? Goodness is exactly what it says it is in 2 Peter 1:4-8. The following are a list of principles that define goodness. Goodness is escaping from the moral decay, staying away from covetousness, and developing virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and Christian love. None of us are perfect, so God gave us this list that we can work on.
When we work on improving ourselves, we need to have this list with us. At first, we need to work on only one of the principles listed above. After we have conquered that principle, we need to start working on the next principle. Little by little, we will become good and pleasing to God
Faithfulness
"Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe."
Hebrews 12:28
Hebrews 12:28
The scripture above is all about our faithfulness to God, but, when we are faithful to God, we can be faithful to our fellowman. In Hebrews 12:28, it talks about us receiving a firm and stable kingdom, which cannot be shaken. This is what we need to keep in mind when we are tempted to act unfaithfully.
This faithfulness to God means serving and worshipping Him. Prayer and meditation is a great way to learn faithfulness. Studying God's Word is another way to not only learn faithfulness, but also to show our faithfulness. Faithfulness is learned as we grow spiritually, so we need to use service, worship, prayer and meditation, and studying God's Word as a studying tool. The more we study the more faithfulness we are able to display to God and others.
Gentleness
"Finally, all [of you] should be of one and the same mind (united in spirit), sympathizing [with one another], loving [each other] as brethren [of one household], compassionate and courteous (tenderhearted and humble).
Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God- that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection]."
I Peter 3:8, 9
Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God- that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection]."
I Peter 3:8, 9
Gentleness is expressed beautifully in I Peter 3:9. It says that we should pray for the welfare, happiness, and protection for our brother and sisters. We need to treat people with tenderness. When people are having problems, even if they take them out on us, we need to sympathize and not lash out at them.
When we show gentleness to others, we are working on obtaining blessings. This includes our prosperity as heirs, our welfare, happiness, and protection. Although we should be gentle with people whether we get a reward or not, it's nice to know that our efforts have a reward.
Self-control
"So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God)."
Colossians 3:5
Colossians 3:5
When we think of self-control, we usually think of people who get into fist fights and get extremely violent. This isn't all that is included in self-control. Self-control also includes "…sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness…" (Colossians 3:5). In this scripture, we learn that anything that does not please God is idolatry. We need to control ourselves when those temptations come up.
One of the problems that I need to control is over-eating. Most of my life, I have struggled to control myself around food. There are times that I can enforce self-control when I am around food, but, other times I really struggle. This has caused an ongoing weight problem, which I know is not pleasing to God. Every day, I work to get better and learn more self-control.
What is the point of this blog?
The point of this blog is to teach us the importance of working on us and not looking at everyone else's faults. This can be done by learning the fruits of the Spirit, which need to replace the fruits of the flesh. Although we were born sinners, we are now free to work on personal development that will help us through this life and into eternity.
This week's challenge is to identify the fruits of the flesh, learn the fruits of the Spirit, and work on increasing the fruits of the Spirit and decreasing the fruits of the flesh. This will cause the greatest success of all. Not only will we be able to succeed at our relationships, careers, and personal life, but we will be able to develop a relationship with God that will be an example to everyone around us.
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
