Galatians 5:22
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness”.
The next fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness. This is to be trusted or relied upon. This isn’t exclusive to believers. However, this is an aspect that the Lord seeks to build within us. The common phrases are faithful spouse or faithful employee. Those are things God wants us to be.
This is important to Him as He is faithful. He wants us to rely on Him. There is never a time when we call on Him that He won’t help. It usually comes in a different manner or a different time, but He always will rescue us. This is amazing.
Knowing this brings us peace. Without His faithfulness, our anxiety would rise. Millions worry about things as they are strangers to His faithfulness. Matthew 11:28,29 says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Rest for our souls is what we crave.
Just as the Lord wants us to tap into His resources for rest, so He wants us to be a blessing to others. He wants others to know we are always there them. Yes, our resources are limited, but we are to be the kind that says, “what I have I give to you”.
Peter said this in Acts 3:6, ‘Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”’ We may not have particular resources, but we can point to Christ. God has also equipped us with particular gifts. Those are to be employed in helping others.
God is concerned about our reputation. Just as He is His. He wants us to be seen as faithful. I Peter 4:15,16 says, “Make sure lest any of you suffer as a murderer, thief, an evil doer or even a troublesome meddler, but if any suffers as a christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God in this name.” We are to be associated with God, not bad deeds. He wants others to see us as faithful, and for others to connect that to Jesus.
Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness and for Your desire to build faithfulness in us. Help us to be so.