“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control”
Proverbs 25:28

Proverbs 25:28; 2 Timothy 1:7

“If you would learn self-mastery, begin by yielding yourself to the One Great Master.”
–Johann Friedrich Lobstein

IN WORD The contemporary church is plagued with problems of self-discipline. Sinful behaviors have infiltrated our congregations possibly at unprecedented levels. One reason self-control is such a problem for so many Christians is that it feels like a work of the flesh. We are told to live Spirit-filled lives, so we become passive. We have incorrectly assumed that any effort on our part is “works,” a product of the flesh and a symptom of legalism. We end up with a faith without works, and as we find out, that kind of faith is dead (James 2:15-20).

Self-control is perhaps the most confusing of all the fruits of the Spirit. How can it involve the self and the Spirit at the same time? If it’s self-control, how can it be Spirit-control? It can’t. But, contrary to popular teaching, the Bible never tells us to be controlled by the Spirit, at least not in the sense that we lose our personality and will. We are to be born of the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, led by the Spirit, inspired by the Spirit, and sealed by the Spirit. But we are not controlled by the Spirit. The Spirit enables us to have self-control.

A lack of self-control will cause us to neglect necessary disciplines like prayer, Bible study, contemplation, evangelism, and more. It will also cause us to indulge even godly desires in inappropriate ways. A lack of discipline distorts work, sexuality, entertainment, nutrition, and stewardship of time and money. If our lives were compared to an ancient city, self-indulgence would be the weakness in our walls. Erosion will eventually cause our protection to collapse and allow our enemies to raid.

IN DEED A life of godly discipline is useful to God. He can accomplish much with it, because it can steward His vast resources appropriately. The uncontrolled life squanders God’s treasures–spiritual and material–and invites attack. At all costs, let the Spirit empower you to learn self-control. It is the key to managing all other fruitfulness.

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
Philippians 4:5

Philippians 4:4-5

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing is so gentle as real strength.”
-St. Francis de Sales

IN WORD David was gentle toward his rebellious son (2 Samuel 18:5). Jesus came into this world with a spirit of gentleness (Matthew 11:29; Matthew 21:5). Paul had a tender attitude toward the churches he had founded (2 Corinthians 10:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:7). Throughout Scripture, we are instructed to put on gentleness as though it’s a required garment. Why? Because God has been gentle with us. It’s who He is, and we are to be like Him.

We may not envision God as being gentle. We read of His anger toward humanity before the ark was built; of His command for Israel to ruthlessly conquer the Canaanites; of His judgments on Israel in the prophets; and of His harsh bloodied, beaten Jesus. But all of this points to His absolute, uncompromising, holy purity. His heart is thoroughly gentle. When our confession and humility allow for His gentleness, He always chooses it over His judgment.

Have you felt His gentle touch? When you received mercy rather than condemnation, it was there. Every day when He feeds you, clothes you, and surrounds you with air to breathe, you feel His tender provision. If there is anyone out there who loves you as you are, you have seen a reflection of His gentle nature. In Jesus, we know a gentle God.

IN DEED If the fruits of the Spirit are God’s display of His character through the church to a searching world, then gentleness is one of the most needed elements of that display. The world does not know of this gentle God–it portrays Him as either viciously judgmental or blandly irrelevant. It has not seen enough examples of righteous, patient, redemptive gentleness. Be one of those examples. Find a hurting person and demonstrate God’s gentle touch.

“O’ Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O’ Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you.”
Psalm 89:8

Psalm 89:1-8

“The faithful person lives constantly with God.”
-Clement of Alexandria

IN WORD If you were to do a biblical word study on “faithfulness,” you would find something mildly surprising: The vast majority of biblical references to faithfulness are about God, not about us. God’s faithfulness is an established fact in Scripture; man’s is not. We are encouraged to be faithful, but we are always found wanting. God, however, is constant. His faithfulness reaches to the skies (see Psalm 36:5; Psalm 57:10; 108:4), and His love and faithfulness are semantically paired so often that they are clearly intertwined. His love is unchanging; there is nothing fickle about it–not even from generation to generation (Psalm 100:5). True faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2). It can do no other.

This is why faithfulness must be a fruit of the Spirit. It cannot be of the flesh. Humanity measures faithfulness in terms of months and years; God measures it in terms of eternity. We cannot maintain such commitment unless the power to do so is given from above. It simply is not within us to be covenant-keepers for long. Nearly every biblical covenant originates in heaven and is maintained unilaterally by the covenant- keeping God. His faithfulness alone is everlasting.

IN DEED If you needed any sense of security about your salvation, there it is. God keeps you because he is faithful. He knows the fickleness of those He pursues, and He pursues us nonetheless. He knew how unstable we were before He committed to keep us.

But we cannot remain unstable, not if we’re filled with His Spirit. The flesh is weak, but we no longer live according to the flesh. Never use the excuse, “I’m only human.” You are human with the Spirit of the living God dwelling within. Faithfulness is possible for us when we are wholly dependent on Him. His faithfulness surrounds His throne. Enthrone Him in your heart, and it will surround you, too.

“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6

Psalm 23

“Goodness is something so simple: always live for others, never seek one’s own advantage.”
-Dag Hammarskjold

IN WORD For something to be worthwhile in our age, it must be amazing, outstanding, remarkable, or awesome. we are so overwhelmed with superlatives that we must keep coming up with more attention-grabbing adjectives with each new season of advertising. But God ofter advertises Himself in refreshing simplicity. He is good. Through and through, pure and simple, He is good. His attitude toward us is good, His will toward us is good, and His works on our behalf are good. We are unaccustomed to pure forms in our world–everything is tainted with corruption–but with God, no superlative is necessary. From any angle we look at Him, we see goodness.

There’s a remarkable transformation for us in His goodness. God blesses so that His people will become blessers. He gives so that we will give. He loves so we will love. He forgives so we forgive. His demeanor toward us is to be reflected in our demeanor toward others. It isn’t just a responsibility to fulfill; it’s a natural reaction. When we’ve been treated so well, it’s natural to treat others well. His goodness takes root in us; we become good, like Him.

IN DEED Most of us are busy trying to impress others with a remarkable personality, amazing skills, or our outstanding achievements. God’s Spirit in us, however, will not make us flashy. He will make us good.

If others do not see in us a simple, uncorrupted goodness, they do not see the Spirit of God. We forget that behind every miracle, behind every teaching, behind every revelation and prophecy, there is the goodwill of God. Goodness underlies everything He does. He is a beneficent Creator, and a beneficent Creator births beneficent children. Do you bear His goodness? Demonstrate it to someone today. Show your world what God is like.

“A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself.” Proverbs 11:17

Proverbs 11:17; Colossians 3:12

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
-Mother Teresa

IN WORD Kindness is defined as an attitude or action that benefits others. It is directed toward others, enjoyed by others, and edifying for others. Cruelty, too, is defined as something directed toward others. But this proverb doesn’t focus on the effect of kindness (or lack thereof) on others. It skips the basic definitions and goes straight to the side effects. It focuses on the results on oneself.

Just as patience ironically promotes those who are most reluctant to promote themselves, so kindness builds up those who are most interested in building up others. Cruel people try to give themselves a boost by harming others, but the strategy backfires. Harming others will eventually cause trouble for the cruel person. Likewise, kindness will eventually be returned to the kind. People who help others also help themselves, and so does God.

But we must be careful how we define kindness. True kindness will prompt a person to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). No one would question Jesus’ kindness, but it could be very confrontational kindness toward those who distorted truth and righteousness. A wise person will accept that: “Let a righteous man strike me–it is a kindness; let him rebuke me–it is oil on my head,” wrote David (Psalm 141:5). Kindness is an intentional effort to pursue what is good for another person.

IN DEED Have people been unkind to you? There’s a chance that the reason lies within yourself–not that you are unworthy of the kindness of others, but perhaps you have not made an effort to be kind. A person reaps what he sows, and if one has sown kindness, he will reap it as well.

Perhaps others take your kindness for granted. God will not. An unbiblical saying asserts that God helps those who help themselves. Biblical truth says that God helps those who help others. Do you qualify? Then they, and you, will benefit.