Attitude Translates Into Action

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

Kindness: favorable attitude, usefulness, i.e. morally, excellence (in character or demeanor); kindness that is also serviceable

Favorable attitude — that is serviceable! 

When I looked up "serviceable" the thesaurus, I found the following words: dependable, beneficial, invaluable, practical, usable.

Kindness isn't about just being polite. Rather it has the idea of having an attitude that translates into action. 

How often do we DO "kindness"? Kindness is to be beneficial, invaluable, PRACTICAL, and usable. But first must begin with an attitude — morally excellent attitude. 

Attitude: manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, especially of the mind. (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/attitude)

If I want to produce kindness, I must work on my attitude for that will determine my actions. A good place to begin with an attitude adjustment is right in Galatians 5:22. 

Is my attitude what God prefers (love)? Does my attitude reflect grace recognized (joy)?  Is my attitude based on God's gift of wholeness (peace). Is my attitude one of uncomplaining (longsuffering)?

Kindness — attitude translates into action! 

Uncomplaining

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

Longsuffering: patience, forbearance, longanimity, slowness in avenging wrongs

Patience: the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance whenconfronted with delay. (http://www.dictionary.com)

When I looked up the word in the thesaurus, the synonym that stood out  to me was, "uncomplaining".

It's easy to complain! We are quick to express to everyone the wrong that has been done to us! And the more we focus on that wrong the angrier we become. Then we want vengeance! 

If we change our mindset to one of "uncomplaining", to one of patience, one of "slowness in avenging" — then we will be able to show what God prefers (love) experience grace recognized (joy), and accept God's gift of wholeness (peace). 

Uncomplaining. Longsuffering. 

God's Gift of Wholeness

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

Peace: (from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness). (HelpsBible.com) Peace between individuals, i. e. harmony

Love: what God prefers

Joy: grace recognized 

Peace: God's gift of wholeness

Peace. It's easy to have harmony and quietness when everyone agrees with ME! However, when others have a different viewpoint, how does one have peace? 

Peace is not about getting my way, or having all in agreement with me. Rather, peace is the quietness and comfort from God — first and foremost, being in harmony, in agreement with Him. That wholeness with God is only when I recognize who God is, and who I am. When I come humbly to the Holy God Almighty, I then can accept His gift of forgiveness and peace. 

Peace is a gift of God's wholeness. And when I am in harmony with God, then I can experience peace even in the midst of chaos. For when I humbly accept the gift of God's grace, I then can express that grace and forgiveness to others. And as I share grace, peace abounds. 

Does that mean I have to agree with everyone else in order to have and share peace? No. However, it does mean that I have to be wise in words, actions, and attitude and allow God's grace to rule my life. 

Peace a gift from God that brings harmony and calmness to my soul. And once my soul is at peace, I then can experience that peace and harmony with those around me— all because of God's grace. 

Grace Recognized

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

Joy: gladness, cheerfulness, calm delight; the awareness (of God's) grace, favor; "grace recognized"

Joy is not based on circumstances or feelings. Rather joy, a product of the Holy Spirit, is based on all that God has to offer—justification, forgiveness, peace, adoption, fellowship with God Almighty, and eternal life with God. The joy is because of the relationship with God. The joy is an outpouring of the love God gives. 

This morning, I awoke with a searing headache and intense back pain. Normally I wake up in pain, but this morning, it was a much higher level. Yet, as I got up and I slowly made my way to the kitchen, my mind switched from the pain to the Castle. Just walking down the hallway toward the kitchen, I had to stop and thank God for this amazing home. In the stillness and quietness of the morning, I looked at the living room. Each time I see that fireplace and the vaulted ceiling, I'm overcome with an overwhelming sense of amazement. God in His gracious goodness, has supplied an amazing home for me and my parents. As I think about Who God is and how He takes care of me — just wow! 

My heart can overflow with joy, not because my life is perfect, or I'm pain free (that won't happen until I am in Heaven!). But rather, my heart can overflow with joy because I know and have a relationship with God Almighty. 

Joy the awareness of God's grace—grace recognized! The more I take time to recognize God's grace the more joy will overflow! 

What God prefers.

Galatians 5:22, 23. 

Love.... 
agápē – properly, love which centers in moral preference. In the NT, (agápē) typically refers to divine love ( = what God prefers). (http://biblehub.com/interlinear/galatians/5-22.htm)

What God prefers. That sure puts a perspective on Love. What does God prefer? Something to think about in regards to what I should be loving and how I should be demonstrating love.

What God prefers.

Now and Henceforth

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

May my meditation be sweet to Him;

I will be glad in the Lord.

Psalm 104:33-34 (NKJV)

Sing: to make song while traveling, going about singing

As long as I live: each day I'm living

Sing praise: to celebrate in song and music; give praise, sing forth praises

While I have my being: literally in the continuance of, while I'm living, now and henceforth

Meditation: to ponder, i.e. (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence, aloud)

Sweet: the idea of close association, Intermix; to be agreeable -- be pleasant, take pleasure in

Glad: cheer up, brighten up, make joyful, cause to rejoice

Throughout my day, as I go about my daily routine, I am to be singing to the Lord. I am to be celebrating God's goodness. I am to be continually honoring God and praising Him. 

And that begins when my thoughts are agreeable—intermixed with God's. Intermixed...... so much that God's thoughts are so intwined that my thoughts and His thoughts become one in the same. 

And the end result of this.... is that I will then "brighten up" I will be joyful! 

Thanks Living! 

Jesus Christ is better .....

Reading Hebrews 1 today, and verse 3 really jumped off the page. 

"who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3, NKJV)

Upholding: Uphold (keep from falling), the preserver of the universe.

All things: in an absolute sense, all things collectively, the totality of created things, the universe of things

Word: declaration of one's mind made in words, God's omnipotent command

Power: the word uttered by his power, equivalent to his most powerful will and energy; ability and strength

Just stop and think for a moment of the power and authority that Jesus has...... yet, He was still willing to die on the cross and bear my (our) sin and endure the wrath of God — I'm at a loss for words.... awe struck.... when you grasp that reality......if you can. 

The power that Jesus Christ has — yet because He loved me (us), He willingly bore the wrath of God Almighty (His Father), and died, so that I (we) can have eternal life free from God's wrath. 

The preserver of the universe, the One who created and holds everything together, the One who has the ability and strength to create and sustain — paid the price for my (our) sin. 

Jesus Christ is better—

I'm looking forward to this morning's message on Jesus Christ is better - than Angels and Prophets from Hebrews. 

You can listen to Pastor Osborne's Sermons online at:

www.faithbaptistwh.org (The Sermons are listed under the Media tab.)