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The Amish Voice 5
excellence, kindness and helpfulness, peace and consideration.
It means that a person is full of all good and he does all good. It
means...
that he has a good heart and good behavior
that he is good and does good
that he is a quality person
Note that a good person lives and treats everyone just as they
should be treated. He does not take advantage of any person
nor does he stand by and let others take advantage. He stands
up and lives for what is right and good and just. This means
that goodness involves discipline and rebuke, correction and
instruction as well as love and care, peace and conciliation. A
good person will not give license to evil, will not let evil run
rampant. He will not allow evil to indulge itself and treat others
unjustly. He will not allow others to suffer evil. Goodness steps
forward and does what it can to stop and control evil.
God is full of goodness.
“He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is
full of the goodness of the LORD” (Ps. 33:5).
Believers are to be full of all goodness.
“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my
brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with
all knowledge, able also to admonish one
another” (Ro. 15:14).
7. There is the fruit of faith or faithfulness: it means to be
faithful and trustworthy, to be loyal and steadfast in
devotion and allegiance. It means to be constant, staunch,
and enduring. A faithful person denies and sacrifices
himself—all he is and has—and trusts God. He believes
God and knows that God will work all things out for good.
Therefore, he casts himself totally upon God and becomes
faithful to God.
Faithfulness does not doubt God—not His salvation,
provision, or strength to help.
Faithfulness does not begin with God then back off and
give up.
Faithfulness does not walk with God then give in to the
lusts of the flesh.
Faithfulness begins with God and continues with God.
Faithfulness continues on and on; it never slackens or
surrenders.
God is faithful.
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the
fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1
Cor.1:9).
“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever:
with my mouth will I make known thy
faithfulness to all generations” (Ps. 89:1).
Believers are to be faithful.
“Moreover it is required in stewards [believers],
that a man be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2).
8. There is the fruit of meekness: it means to be gentle, tender,
humble, mild, considerate, but strongly so. Meekness has
the strength to control and discipline, and it does so at the
right time.
a. Meekness has a humble state of mind. But this does not
mean the person is weak, cowardly, and bowing. The
meek person simply loves people and loves peace;
therefore, he walks humbly among men regardless of
their status and circumstance in life. Associating with the
poor and lowly of this earth does not bother the meek
person. He desires to be a friend to all and to help all as
much as possible.
b. Meekness has a strong state of mind. It looks at situations
and wants justice and right to be done. It is not a weak
mind that ignores and neglects evil and wrong-doing,
abuse and suffering.
If someone is suffering, meekness steps in and does
what it can to help.
If evil is being done, meekness does what it can to stop
and correct it.
If evil is running rampant and indulging itself,
meekness actually strikes out in anger. However, note a
crucial point: the anger is always at the right time and
against the right thing.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why do some people consider “gentleness” as a
weakness of character? What makes “gentleness” a
strength? Would you consider yourself to be gentle
according to God’s definition? Why or why not?
2. What kind of impact does the “fruit of goodness” have
in the world today? When “goodness” is absent, what
are some of the consequences?
QUESTIONS:
1. What does faithfulness not do? According to this
definition, are you being faithful?
2. In what ways can you cultivate faithfulness in your life?