When I left Orlando in 2013 to come to Columbia, it was with a leap of faith.  And now, as I return to Florida it is again a huge leap of faith.  At my going away party in Florida, I cannot help but remember Dr. Bajaj’s words, “Effie has a faith that makes her fearless.”  Perhaps it would appear that way whenever I step out into the unknown because I have been assured by God that He has called me to do so.  However, the truth is faith is stepping boldly forward into what God has commanded surrounded by all the fears, the unknowns.  Knowing full well that if God does not hold you up and sustain you, you will crash.  It is clinging tight to the truth “God IS and He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Faith is seeking Him, obeying Him and pressing forward when all the circumstances around you look impossible; because, you have been assured that this is His will.  It is knowing the depth of His love for you and never forgetting He is Sovereignly in control of all things.  Some would say, there is no way to know His will.  But I have written before on that subject many times.  For me it comes with diligent prayer, patiently waiting for His answer.  Often, it does involve fleece like Gideon.  Yet, I caution you to ascertain the fleece is such as cannot be manipulated by you.  Remember too that God never will tell you to do that which goes against scripture. He will never condone sin.  So, you must diligently study His word exegetically and not manipulate scripture by taking it out of context.

Faith as the Fruit of the Holy Spirit

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And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:6-7).  What really is goodness?  Is it as some would say, complete tolerance and acceptance of all things?  Others would mock goodness, calling someone a “goody two shoes” because they choose to follow God.  Desiring to strictly guide one’s life by God’s moral laws, is at times demeaned by society.  Goodness, as defined by Merriam Webster is the nutritious, flavorful or beneficial part of something or the quality of being good.  Therefore, goodness must be, as in the scripture tempered with truth.  It must include justice and righteousness; alongside forgiveness and mercy.

God’s goodness is His Mercy, His Grace providing a way for forgiveness while at the same time standing firm upon His Justice, His righteousness and Truth.  Although He does provide mercy, forgiveness, and grace to all who come to Him with hearts broken by their own guilt and shame.  Those who desire Him, accepting His gift of salvation.  Yet, it is not clearing the guilty.  The guilty being those who reject His gift of salvation, marching forward with their own selfish agenda to do things their way.  Those who may even appear on the surface good; but, deny God as the only true source of goodness.  Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:4,5).  Goodness is forgiving the repentant sinner, while standing firm against sin.

God is Goodness

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The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith (Galatians 5:22).  Over the past few weeks we have studied the fruits of the Spirit.  Thus far, we have looked at love, joy, peace, and longsuffering (Patience). Now we will look at gentleness.  Most of the newer translations place kindness in the place of gentleness.  However, the two oldest English translations—both the Geneva Bible and the King James Version use gentleness. A gentle spirit would certainly display kindness; but it would go further.  For kindness can be displayed outwardly, even by those who do not have a gentle spirit.  Whereas those with a gentle spirit radiating from the depth of their soul, can remain calm and kind even in the face of contempt.  The difference being the depth of the gentle spirit and its source.

A gentle spirit does not seek revenge.  Nor does it respond to the critical arrows being slung at it by others.  Instead, it that calm, gentle spirit which can turn the other cheek when slapped.  Certainly, this is not a natural response.  Our own human spirit desires to rise in defense when others criticize and belittle us.  We want to clear our name.  Therefore, a truly gentle Spirit in the Face of Contempt can only come by the workings of the Holy Spirit within us. Jesus Christ displayed this throughout His life; even during His trial and death on the cross.  The Holy Spirit within me is constantly transforming me into the image of Jesus Christ as we read in Romans 8:29.

For you or me to maintain a gentle spirit in the face of contempt, we must learn to see things through God’s eyes.  Only the Holy Spirit can accomplish this in us; because, we cannot without Him.

A Gentle Spirit in the Face of Contempt

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What really is long suffering patience in the face of conflict?  When the road gets tough or conflict arises, a part of me wants to run, to hide, or to avoid the person.  Yet, that is not the fruit of the spirit referred to in Galatians 5:23.  After all, if God had justly turned His back upon me in my rebellion, I could never know His Grace.  It has been with everlasting patience that He persisted forward in the face of Conflict.  Patience in the face of conflict presses forward much like the oxen ploughing the rough and stony field.  Tethered with a yoke upon his back, he presses forward until the work is done.

When I refuse to face the trials or conflict, they grow within me until frustration overtakes my heart.  Thusly, it destroys true love, joy, and peace.  The task must be completed—pressing steadily patiently forward.  Never looking to the right or left, the oxen must press forward.  And so, do we.  Not taking our eyes off the goal, we press steadily forward.  Nor are we to allow anger or selfish desires to enter in.  We must allows be reminded of God’s patient steady love that deals with our rebellious hearts and emulate that kind of patience.

Isaiah 50:4-9

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Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:23).  In the last post, I wrote regarding our position as believers, resting in the truth of knowing peace with God.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (Romans 8:16). Therefore, as His child, I must take on characteristics so that I may look like Him.  God is a God of Peace, Righteousness, Justice, Grace, Mercy, and Love.  When I in my speech or actions fail to represent my Father, I bring shame to His name. The Beatitudes are like large spikes piercing this sometimes-rebellious heart.  There are moments when I throw off the righteous robes I so graciously have been given, revealing the filthy rags of my own heart.

Yesterday was such a day.  I could say that it was a righteous indignation that began the downfall.  However, that is the excuse we Christians feebly give for our own anger or lack of grace.  Once allowing those thoughts to enter, they grew much like a rapid growing cancer.  I could say the stress of everything overwhelmed me.  After all I am about to make a major move.  I worked very diligently to have everything in place before I left.  Yet, bureaucracy moves slowly and hence I fear for those I have for 5 years overseen and protected with a mothering love, until my replacement begins.  But if I have allowed fear in, have I not pushed aside faith? For it has not been I who protected them these 5 years, it has been God and He will continue to do so.

One Failed Peacemaker

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