Faithfulness (Part 2)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is... Faithfulness..." Galatians 5:22

Last week I asked everyone to read Hosea chapters 1-3.  I also asked you to decide how this story pertains to Faithfulness. Oh, did you forget to read them??? :)  Here is your chance to catch up. 

Hosea is the first minor prophet in the Old Testament.  The first three chapters are very short, but they are also very descriptive...  They not only describe Hosea's relationship with his wife Gomer, but it also shows/represents God's relationship with Israel at that time.

Can you imagine being faithful to your spouse when he or she isn't doing the same in return for you?  Can you imagine paying a high price to bring your unfaithful spouse back to you?  Ummm... I don't think so... I think the more accurate response would be, "See ya!" or "Good riddance..."  God would definitely need to have a huge hand in the redemption of your spouse, if there was any...

God had been faithful to Israel, even-though they had not been faithful to Him.  He still loved and cared for them even-though they loved Baal more than they loved the One, True God.  

Hosea was instructed to marry a prostitute so that they could represent what was going on with Israel.  Can you imagine that?  I cannot even begin to fathom what that must have been like.  Not only did Hosea marry Gomer (the prostitute), but he bought her back after she left him for another man later on...  

That is how great our God is.  He will buy us back even when we do unthinkable things.  He loves us anyways.  He is going to be Faithful to us even if we haven't been faithful to Him.

What are some ways in which we can be more faithful to God?  In what areas have we not been faithful to Him?  Let's reflect on this this week, and show our faithfulness to God and others throughout our every day life.

Blessings!

~ S*

Faithfullness (Part 1)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is... FAITHFULNESS..." Galatians 5:22

Scriptures for this week:

1 Samuel 26:23, "The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD's anointed." (NIV)

Psalms 36:5-6, " Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep." (NIV)

Psalm 40:10, "I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness." (NLT)

Isaiah 11:5, "Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist." (NIV) (This is a prophesy about Jesus.)

Lamentations 3:2, "Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." (NLT) (Even in the book of laments the writer praises God for his faithfulness and mercy!)

More Scriptures:

Psalm 88:11

Psalm 89:2, 5, 8

Psalm 92:2

Psalm 119:75, 90

Psalm 143:1

Romans 3:3-4

For next week, please read Hosea chapters 1-3.  Let me know what you learn, and how you think this story pertains to Faithfulness!  I look forward to hearing from you!

Blessings!

~ S*

Fruit of the Spirit

Over the next few weeks I am planning on studying each fruit of the Spirit individually, but today let's talk about all of them!

Galatians 2:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (NIV)

The New Living Translation says this, "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" (Galatians 5:22-23)

Whenever I think of the fruit of the Spirit I think of a song that I learned when I was little:
"The fruit of the Spirit is not a banana, the fruit of the Spirit is not a banana. So if you want to be a banana, you can't be a fruit of the Spirit, 'cause that's not what it's all about. The fruit of the spirit is: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self control..."
As the song went you replaced "banana" with a different fruit each time you ran through the song.

Did you learn the fruit of the Spirit in a song when you were little? Seems so simple right? But it isn't always that simple to practice the fruit of the Spirit in our every days lives. How can we apply them? Which fruit is easiest for you to practice? Which is the toughest? In the upcoming weeks, I will give scriptures pertaining to each of these. Which would you like me to talk about first? Let me know; I look forward to hearing from you!

Blessings!
~ S*
If you would like to see a similar version of the kid song check it out Here!