“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23)

This week we will be looking at the seventh characteristic mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 – faithfulness.

The Greek word for faithfulness is pistis. The word means faith rather than faithfulness in almost all the times it appears in the New Testament. I understand why the translators went with faithfulness in Galatians. They are trying to show that these are characteristics that we are supposed to live out.

The Greek word pistis means faith, belief, trust, confidence, faithfulness. Faith is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by human beings.

John Calvin, the father of the Presbyterian Church and one of the fathers of the Reformed Tradition writes: “Faith is a persuasion from God that we receive as he grants. Faith is always the work of God and involves hearing his voice – whereby the believer lays hold of his preferred will.”

pistis in ancient Greek referred to a guarantee or warrantee. Faith is God’s guaranteen and warrantee certifying that what he promised will come to pass.

The characteristic that pistis refers to is God’s faith, God’s faithfulness. When we have faith, it is only because God grants such faith and its revelation to us, and because God is worthy of our trust and faith.

So when Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift from God, not as a result of works, so that no one should boast,” we can’t even take the credit for having faith in God, because even faith is given to us as a gift from God.

That’s exactly what Paul means in Ephesians 2:8-9. It’s all God. It’s all grace. It’s all God’s faithfulness. We have faith because God grants faith to us and because God is faithful.

We are to live a life that demonstrates our faith, trust, and confidence in God, and when we live that life, we are being faithful. Even when God’s ways and God’s truth doesn’t make sense to us, even when it goes against the world’s way, we remain faithful because God is faithful.

Looking forward to spending the rest of the week with you as we explore together the meaning of this rich word “faith”.

As I shared with you at the beginning of the week there are only four times that the word “goodness” appears in the New Testament so we have a free day today!

Since most of us have some time during this season – wink, wink – I would like to recommend a documentary that is on Netflix right now called, “American Gospel: Christ Alone.” It is free on Netflix and you can rent it on Prime Video for around $4.

The thesis of the documentary is that the gospel being preached at some churches is not the gospel at all. It is a false gospel. What’s worse, this American version of the gospel is being exported to other countries under the guise of Christianity. The particular issue has to do with the dangers of the prosperity gospel. It is what you find on the best seller lists at book stores and what is being preached at some of the largest churches in the United States.

It is one of the best treatments of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the dangers around the prosperity gospel. I highly recommend it.

Pastors Brad, Bill, and I have all watched it and hope that our entire congregation can watch it as well. If we were able to gather, we would show it at the church.

After you’ve watched the video, would love to hear your thoughts. Blessings! See you at worship on Sunday!

“I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another” (Romans 15:14).

The Apostle Paul is bringing his letter to the Romans to a close in chapters 15 and 16. And after having reminded the Romans of all that God has done for us through Jesus Christ – that there is no condemnation, that nothing can separate us from the love of God, that all things will work together for those who love Jesus, because everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved – the Apostle feels confident about the Roman Christians. Not because of their inherent abilities or goodness, but because of God’s amazing power and goodness. And it is God’s power that has now filled the Roman Christians with all knowledge.

So, I too, am confident about you Little Church and Lakewoodgrace. I am confident that God will use you to be a blessing for God’s goodness in our world. I am confident that you have the ability to thrive, not just survive, during this season. I am confident that God chose you and me to be alive for just such a time as this because God is more than able to use the likes of you and me to bless our world, right now!

One of the things that can happen during this season is paralysis. Unless we are careful, we can become convinced that there is nothing we can do during this time because we can’t see people and gather for worship.

That’s a lie. That’s simply not true. There is so much we can do to make a difference in the lives of people.

Just the other day, I noticed that my wife had baked a batch of cookies. You see, there are people who enjoy that kind of thing. And then, I realized there are people who really enjoy eating cookies! What a match made in heaven!!!

You see, normally when my wife bakes, it’s to give away. She enjoys baking and cooking. And she enjoys when others enjoy her food.

If that’s you, hello!!! I love cookies!!!

There are many others who would love a batch a cookies, goodies, pecan pies!

Whatever it is you are good at, think on how you can use that to bless others.

• I have also heard from you who are sharing these daily devotionals with others, and others of you who have been sharing our link to Sunday worship. That’s fantastic! After sharing those links, have a conversation about what God revealed to you.
• There is nothing in the world that can stop the prayers of God’s people. No one can stop us from praying. Be intentional about prayer. Join with me and others on Wednesday evenings to pray for our country, city, and our church.
• If you’re a talker, pick up the phone and call someone.
• If you’re a writer, pick up the pen and write a note, send a card, a letter.
• If you’re a baker, I’m your man!

There is so much we can do. Don’t fall for the lie that there is nothing we can do.

I believe in you Little Church and Lakewoodgrace, because I have a great faith in the God who has saved us!