helpinghandA very dear friend of mine lives in Chalmette, Louisiana whose name is Jim. Jim comes to mind when I think of the emphasis we find today in Scripture’s listing of the fruit of the spirit—those qualities present in our lives when we are in Christ. My friend is faithful.

We read in Galatians 5:22-23

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

As we look at “faithfulness” we learn it refers to fidelity and a great sense of trustworthiness towards others. My friend is faithful in his dealings with others. When he says “yes”, it means yes. He doesn’t mean “maybe”. He doesn’t mean he’ll do it if nothing else better comes up. When he says “yes” (or “no” for that matter), he means it. That’s faithfulness. There’s a true sense of reliability with him.

“Above all, my brothers and sisters,” James 5:12 says, “do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Otherwise you will be condemned.”

When we’re marked by a growing sense of faithfulness, we won’t need to “promise” something. Our “yes” or “no” will be enough for those who know us. They will trust us because “our word is our bond.” Isn’t that how you want to be…trusted?

People have confidence in us when this part of the fruit is present in our lives. Not confidence in the sense of they trust us to succeed in all our endeavors, but confidence that we will come through. And it’s in inspiring this kind of confidence that we resemble our Lord.

Psalm 57:10 praises the Lord for this reading “For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” Even when we are unfaithful to Him, the Lord remains faithful to us. He is our model. When the Lord makes a promise, how many times does He come through? 100% Every time. This is our model. This is our goal. This is our standard.

As you work to cultivate the fruit of faithfulness in your life, start with the following:

  1. Stop saying “I promise”—just do it
  2. Actually do what you say you will (or don’t do what you said you wouldn’t)
  3. Do it with everything you have in you

My “Chalmation” friend, Jim, embodies this so well. He’s a challenge to me in my faithfulness to others. I pray to the Lord’s glory, he can serve as a challenge to you too.

Verse 1
Great is Thy faithfulness
O God my Father
There is no shadow
Of turning with Thee
Thou changest not
Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been
Thou forever wilt be

Verse 2
Summer and winter
And springtime and harvest
Sun moon and stars
In their courses above
Join with all nature
In manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness
Mercy and love

Verse 3
Pardon for sin
And a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence
To cheer and to guide
Strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine
With ten thousand beside

Chorus
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning
New mercies I see
All I have needed
Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me

“Great is Thy Faithfulness”
Thomas Obediah Chisholm | William Marion Runyan
© 1923. Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company
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