The Fruit of the Spirit--Faithfulness--Day 9

 

The word for faith in Greek is "pistis".  It has the general meaning of belief, trust, allegiance, fidelity, and confidence.  The word faithfulness is interpreted as one who can be relied on; one who keeps his promises; loyal and steady in allegiance.  Jesus is talking to the Pharisees and other legalistic groups, denouncing them for majoring on the minor when it comes to religion.  They tithed from their harvest, which was right according to Deuteronomy 14:22.  But they missed the heart of the law, which was to follow the law, but always through the filter of justice, compassion, and loyalty.  They screamed what the scripture whispered, and whispered what it screamed.  (I loved this saying from Tara-Leigh Cobble, so I borrowed it. 😍)  Titus 2 gives guidelines for teachers in the early church, commanding them to be role models for others in good works, integrity, dignity and sound speech. They should be like bondservants, willingly living and acting in submission to their master Jesus, and following His lead. Romans 3 starts out discussing the covenant of the Old Testament, God's promise to the nation of Israel.  The Jews were entrusted with the law and prophets, but they were at MOST half-hearted in their allegiance, loyalty, and faithfulness.  So because they were unfaithful, because they walked away at their first chance--and just about every time after--does that invalidate God's loyalty and steady allegiance to His side of the deal?  Absolutely not!  If every one else lied and walked away, God would not.  

Galatians 5:16-26 contrasts the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.  If you go back and re-read verses 19-21, the works of the flesh, you would not find a smidge of faithfulness in any of them.  Our sinful nature breaks promises, is unreliable, undependable, not trustworthy.  The polar opposite of faithfulness.  But God is the God who stays, He keeps His promise; He is reliable, dependable, and worthy of all trust.  By walking in step with the Spirit of the Living God, we learn to mold our actions to His.  "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works." Titus 2:11-14  May that be said of us.