All posts in the [Fruits of the Spirit Series](https://trustjesus.substack.com/p/fruits-of-the-spirit-6fc)

Once again here are the fruits of the Spirit as defined in Galatians 5.

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

### Self Control in All Things

>  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.  Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:2-8)

We serve an awesome, loving God, who has given believers “*His divine power*” and “*has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness*.”  This divine power includes self-control in all things.

God calls us to apply “a*ll diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love*.”  I would argue that self-control aids in our diligence of all of these traits.

It takes self-control to live a life of moral excellence.

It takes self-control to study and gain knowledge.

It takes self-control to persevere in difficult and especially uncomfortable situations.

It takes self-control to live in a godly manner.

It takes self-control to always show brotherly kindness.

It takes self-control to show love to those who are not loving.

God promises that if we diligently seek these things, he will “*render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ*.”  If God considers us fruitful, we are fruitful indeed.

### Following the Master’s Plan

> Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.  Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.  (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

One thing I noticed in this passage was that we need to “*exercises self-control in all things*,” but it then gives more information “*I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air*.”  We need to have self-control in a wise and functional way.

A number of years ago I had an employee that was a good parts salesman.  He knew motorcycle parts very well and had a clientele that would seek him out.  When our parts manager left, we decided to promote him to manager even though we had some concerns (mostly he thought he knew everything and didn’t listen well to instructions).  We ended up having to fire him for not doing what he was supposed to do and not getting everything done.  He responded that he worked harder than everyone else.  He did work hard, but because he didn’t follow instructions and processes, he had to work twice as hard to do half as good of a job.

In the same way, we need to listen to God’s commands and plan, so we can work smart instead of hard.  We will never get the full benefit of self-control until we follow the Master’s plan.  This way, “*I myself will not be disqualified*.”

> Like a trampled spring and a polluted well

Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

It is not good to eat much honey,

Nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.

Like a city that is broken into and without walls

Is a man who has no control over his spirit.  (Proverbs 25:26-28)

There are many things over which we must have self-control.  We must have self-control when pressured by the wicked.  We must have self-control to not overindulge our appetites or our pride.  Most of all we must have self-control over our spirit.

### Slow to Anger

One of the two areas that most of us most need self-control is with anger.  When people are foolish, mean, selfish, accusative, etc. we take personal insult and return the same.  This is not the way God wants us to behave.  We must have the mind of Christ and consider others.

> He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.  (Proverbs 16:32)

Are you mighty enough to rule your spirit and control your anger?

> A fool always loses his temper,

But a wise man holds it back.  (Proverbs 29:11)

Are you wise enough to control your temper?

> A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,

But a fool is arrogant and careless.

A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,

And a man of evil devices is hated.  (Proverbs 14:16-17)

Are you cautious to control your temper so you are not tempted to act foolishly or in an evil manner just like those who made you angry?

> He who is slow to anger has great understanding,

But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

A tranquil heart is life to the body,

But passion is rottenness to the bones.  (Proverbs 14:29-30)

This last verse has the key to controlling your temper and not acting in anger.  Do you see it?  “*A tranquil heart is life to the body*.”  How can we have a tranquil heart?  We can have a tranquil heart by knowing God’s purpose and His plan and knowing that His plan will be completed.  We can have a tranquil heart by knowing what Jesus did for us.  We can have a tranquil heart by following Jesus’s example.  A tranquil heart leads to self-control, and self-control leads to a tranquil heart.

### Tame the Tongue

The other area in which we most need self-control is with our words.  How often do we speak before we think and then regret our words?

> Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.  For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.  Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.  Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.  So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.  For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.  But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.  (James 3:1-10)

This passage says that the most difficult thing to control is our tongue.  If we are able to use self-control with our words, we can have self-control in every other way.  Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we succeed in controlling our words.

> He who restrains his words has knowledge,

And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;

When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.  (Proverbs 17:27-28)

This passage has two main points.  “*He who restrains his words has knowledge*.”  I like the analogy someone came up with that God gave us two ears and one mouth because we should listen at least twice as often as we speak.  Listening can help us learn things we need in life.  Listening can also help us understand others.  When we understand where they are coming from, it is easier to sympathize with them instead of getting angry with them.

 If you notice in the passage, it also says “*Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise*.”  Sometimes the wisest thing to do is to say nothing.  Yes we are called to stand up for the truth, but the old saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all,” is used so often because there is truth in it.  I’m not saying that we are never to point out sin if it might hurt a person’s feelings or hurt our relationship with them, but if we are going to correct someone, it does need to be said in a nice (loving) way.  If we aren’t able to do this, it might be best to say nothing.

It is also critical that if we are going to correct someone, we had better make sure we know what we are talking about.  I’ve seen so many times when a person is an expert in one area, they talk like they are an expert in every area, even those in which they know practically nothing.  When they do so, the areas they are knowledgeable in may be assumed to be just as foolish.  I’ve also noticed there are two people who are most certain they are right:  the person who is known as the subject matter expert and the person who knows so little that they don’t have any idea how much they don’t know.

The answer is twofold:  study so you are as knowledgeable as possible and don’t talk as an expert in areas you haven’t spent extensive time studying.  I know holding your tongue can be difficult when you feel passionately about something, but make sure it isn’t only passion speaking.  You don’t want to “*open your mouth and remove all doubt*.”

### Render us Fruitful

In conclusion I’m returning to the passage we started with (or most of it).

> Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (1 Peter 1:5-8)

We are to seek the fruits of the Spirit with “*all diligence*.”  Also, knowledge leads to self-control, which leads to perseverance, which leads to godliness, etc.  We have a progression in our faith and the fruits of the Spirit.

Best of all is this, “*if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful*.”  Make sure not only self-control, but all of the fruits of the Spirit *“are yours and are increasing*,” so you will no longer be “*useless nor unfruitful*.”  Grow in faith.  Study the Bible.  Obey God’s commandments.  Allow the Spirit to use you for the glory of God.  Show the world all that God has given to those who trust Him and obey Him.  Do not be unfruitful.

Trust Jesus.

FYI, my following posts will continue going through each of the individual [fruits of the Spirit ](https://trustjesus.substack.com/p/fruits-of-the-spirit-6fc)listed in Galatians 5

Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated

Self Control:  Fruits of the Spirit, Part 11

This is a summary of what it means to have the fruit of the Spirit, self control and how to grow in self control

This is a long form article, you can read it in https://habla.news/a/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzprf5h5jryfqv2cm3wj3akxgc0za2rsfn4mrnndj2yep9naq5hcetqqxnzdejxvcrqvpcxccnxdp3ff7c3p


What could possibly go wrong?


I basically quit watching the news more than a decade ago.  Every once in a while there is some breaking news that I want some info about that I will turn on, but that happens at most, once a year.  Usually it is before they have consolidated their talking points, so there is at least some truth to it.

Just sitting, listening passively to the news is a waste of time and more likely to indoctrinate you than to actually inform you.


Homeschooling has been so good for both of my kids (both gifted & special needs), for me, and for our family.  They have excelled academically and learned to love learning.  We are all closer to each other.  It has been so wonderful I can't help but encourage everyone to homeschool.


If nobody is offended by your words, actions, or life, you probably aren't walking in the Spirit.


Most people are logically and morally inconsistent.


Two trips ago, I made a list.  Somehow I checked off loading my bathroom bag in my suitcase even though I hadn't done it.  In that case the checklist didn't help.


▄︻デʟɨɮʀɛȶɛֆƈɦ-ֆʏֆȶɛʍֆ══━一,


The whole West seems to have gone full tyrant.  Are there any free Western countries left?


The sous vide stick works great.  I just stick it in a large pot of water with jars of pre-yogurt (2+ Tbs of prebiotic, a couple tablespoons of yogurt or probiotic pills, and the milk/cream/half-and-half) and set the temperature and let it do its thing.  It works great and doesn't take up much room in the cabinet.

I like a tiny bit of sweet, but I agree normal store yogurt is way too sweet.


I still vote, but I don't put my time into politics.  I try to put my time into changing hearts and minds.  As long as the people are corrupt and/or brain washed, voting won't make much difference.

I also have been trying to put lots of time into sharing the Gospel because I think time is very short.  Once the rapture happens, voting won't work, if it is even allowed.


I'm now making my own yogurt using a sous vide cooker using recipes with specific strains that help and with some pre-biotics.  It "cooks" for 36 hours instead of the 4 hours common with commercial yogurt so it has a massively larger quantity and breaks down most of the lactose and even some of the other proteins (casein).  It is naturally thick and I like it with a bit of vanilla stevia.

The temperature you "cook" at differs based on the strains.  One I make uses 106F and one uses 109F.  I just make one or two quart canning jars of the yogurt at a time and mix them together when done.

The specific strains come from the book "Super Gut".  I make it with goat milk because of my new food sensitivies.


I understand where you are coming from.


I vote, but vote for the candidate most likely to reduce taxation, regulation, and murder (through any means including abortion, unnecessary wars, euthanasia, etc.).  I know that none will eliminate these completely, but figure every move in the right direction is better than nothing.

Sometimes, when the winner is obvious and my vote doesn't matter, I vote for a 3rd party candidate just to try to get their vote total high enough that people stop saying, "I don't like the major party guy, but I don't want to waste my vote."


It is possible to be positive and still see and act appropriately the the bad/dangerous things in life.  Never seeing or reacting to problems is not being positive.  It is being naïve or intentionally blind.


America definitely does still have Christians, but it hasn't been a Christian nation for decades.  It is sad how many people, especially Christians, don't realize this truth.


It is sad how many people consider themselves Christians, but live contrary to the Bible.

No, we do not have the right to determine for ourselves, who God is or what is right and wrong.  That is the original sin of trying to usurp the place of God.


The secure group probably would require a private relay.  The others could be public.


It would be nice to have all 3 group/community levels
-- subject matter community (open to new members)
-- friend group (only invited members, but not necessarily needing encryption)
-- secure group (private and encrypted)


A lot depends on your goal.  For a group/community, is it about having a private conversation with a group of people that you know or is it about keeping the conversation on a subject, so your feed isn't full of subjects that don't interest you at the moment or at all.  Limiting the subject matter would likely be done completely differently because you are happy for new people to join in the conversation.  If you want only your desired group to talk, regardless of the subject, it would need to work much differently.  If you needed it to be perfectly secure, then it gets way more complex.


Although I loved keto while I was doing it (around 4 years), I am now having some digestion issues & food sensitivies that I think is caused by my gut biome getting messed up because I wasn't feeding it.  Our microbiome needs some carbs, even if it is just fiber that we can't digest, in order to stay alive.  Taking a little bit of probiotics while doing keto may be a better idea.  I'm not sure.


I don't know if it is truly never, but I agree 100% that building a new model works better and works much more consistently.


and even more crazy, those who know the least think they know everything and spend a bunch of time telling everyone what to do and how things work.

There was actually a study showing the two kinds of people who had the most confidence in their opinions were the subject matter experts and those who knew almost nothing.  Those who knew almost nothing had no idea how much they didn't know.  As people became more and more knowledgeable, they rated themselves lower and lower until you got to the most knowledgeable because the more they knew, the more they understood how much they didn't know.


freeborn | ἐλεύθερος


I read some news this morning (may have been a day or two old because I was out of town) and it sure sounded like things are getting set up for Gog-Magog war.  I can't be dogmatic about it, but I'm not thinking we're heading into a normal economic collapse or a normal war.

Of course, I reserve the right to be wrong.


Looks like a wonderful puppy.


Took them long enough.


I can't bring back my southern accent when I want to, but it comes back if I'm hanging with those with a strong southern accent or if I read Mark Twain out loud.

When homeschooling my son, he loved having me read Mark Twain out loud because Mark Twain writes in a southern accent and it brings out some serious twang in my voice.


All posts in the [Fruits of the Spirit Series](https://trustjesus.substack.com/publish/post/146299038)

Once again here are the fruits of the Spirit as defined in Galatians 5.

> But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) {emphasis mine}

### Truth in Gentleness

We so often seem to either be so determined to stand for truth that we are harsh and cruel in our criticism or we are trying so hard to not hurt people’s feelings that we don’t stand for the truth and end up encouraging people to continue in their sin to the detriment of their souls. Jesus, of course, struck the perfect balance.

> The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they *said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” (John 8:3-11) {emphasis mine}

You’ll notice in this passage that the religious leaders didn’t actually care about right and wrong or the good of the woman caught in adultery. If the woman was caught in the very act of adultery, where was the man involved in the act? They were trying to get a political win. They were destroying this woman’s life to make a point and to put Jesus in an uncomfortable position.

Jesus, on the other hand, cared about the good of the accusers and the good of the accused. He didn’t argue or condemn, but He did defend the truth and God’s law. When He “agreed” with the Pharisees about God’s law, he also made a point by saying “*He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.*” The Pharisees knew God’s law. He didn’t have to lecture them. He just threw out “*He who is without sin among you …*” He let their own conscience condemn them. It wasn’t necessary to spend a bunch of time arguing over the law because they knew the law and they knew their own sin natures.

With the woman caught in sin, he was merciful, but He also was clear, “*From now on sin no more*.” There was no mistaking God’s command, but He didn’t brow beat her, instead, He made it clear what was acceptable behavior.

When we correct people it should always be done in gentleness and mercy and for the good of the person being corrected. It should not be for the purpose of winning an argument or browbeating a person into submission. That isn’t the the gentleness to which Jesus calls us.

> “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)

Jesus promised to bless those who were gentle. Yes, we are called to stand firm on God’s word, but we are not to use God’s righteousness to beat people into submission. On the other hand we are always to be truthful about God’s commands. It isn’t doing anyone a favor to be comfortable in their sin.

### For we also once were …

> Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:1-5)

One thought that can help us be gentle while standing firmly on God’s word is to remember that we were not born perfect or even saved. As Titus says, “*For we also once were* …” We may not have been guilty of the exact sin that we are trying to correct, but we were/are guilty of sin, just as they are. We were either uninformed about God’s law and/or defiant towards God’s commands. Just as God was merciful towards us and sought our best, so also we should be merciful and seek the best for the sinners around us.

> A gentle answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,

But the mouth of fools spouts folly.

…

A soothing tongue is a tree of life,

But perversion in it crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:1-2,4)

### Let Your Gentle Spirit be known

When a person feels attacked, they generally fight back no matter how good your argument is. When a person feels loved and treated with respect, they are usually willing to listen to what you have to say and willing to consider your point of view.

> Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. (Philippians 4:4-5)

It is amazing how a gentle word makes a person willing to listen.

When I was in college, I worked one summer for a bank. Half of the summer I was helping in lending and half of the summer I was helping in collections. The collections half was the hardest job I’ve had to do because I always was uncomfortable talking to strangers on the phone, but it was good for me.

I guess you could say, I talked in a gentler tone than many of the collection agents that did this job full time, and especially those who called those who were consistently months behind on their loans, but the difference between harsh and gentle came out in this situation.

I called one guy who was late on his payment and was regularly late. His first response was to give an excuse, but I had every excuse he had ever made in my computer. I gently corrected his excuse and reminded him that he had promised to pay the loan. He responded that I was the nicest collection agent he had ever spoken to, (It sounded like he got a lot of these calls) and he said, “If every collection agent was as nice as you are, I just might pay my bills.” This guy was far from a a good member of society, but even he responded well to gentleness, and he at least paid that month’s bill to us (probably instead of paying someone else). Gentleness, with firmness, encouraged him to do what was right. Something similar can happen with spiritual matters as well.

> So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. (Colossians 3:12-13)

When those around us act in a hateful fashion, are dishonest, or are inconsiderate, instead of getting mad, we need to look at the heart of the person. A bad situation never excuses sin, but it is not uncommon to find this person had a horrible home life, is having problems at work, just got mistreated by someone, or some other difficult situation. If we see their hurt and their need for Jesus, it is much easier to be forgiving and to give a gentle answer. If we are looking at our own feelings and desires, it is easy to get offended and respond in a manner that is not helpful and which we may regret.

### Preserve the Unity of the Spirit

> Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-5)

Being gentle in our response to others not only aids our witness, but also aids the unity of the church. God calls Christians to be one body with Jesus and with the Church. We are called to act in concert with each other in carrying out God’s will. Too often Christians argue with each other over trivial things, i.e. the color of the church’s carpet or the style of music, or they implement correction in a harsh style, or even worse, they talk behind the person’s back. This is not for the good of the church and should be avoided at all costs.

Jesus was merciful, generous, and gentle with us. This is yet another way we need to be more like Christ.

> The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-25)

This is the attitude to which God calls us: “*to not be quarrelsome*,” to “*be kind to all*,” to be “*patient when wronged*,” and to have “*gentleness correcting*.” All of these are incorporated into the fruit of the Spirit, *gentleness*.

Also important is the result of this Godly gentleness. It can bring about “*repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil*.” Isn’t this our goal? Isn’t it worth subverting our will and pride so that we can be gentle, leading to other’s “escape from the snare of the devil?”

I think so.

### Zealous for Good

> Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (1 Peter 3:13-15)

God wants us to be “*zealous for what is good*.” He blessed the descendants of Aaron because they zealously dealt with sin.

> Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy. Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give him My covenant of peace; and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’ ” (Numbers 25:10-13)

On the other hand, as 1 Peter 3:13-15 says, “…*if you prove zealous for what is good … yet with gentleness and reverence*.” We shouldn’t let our emotions get the best of us. We need to stand for what is good, but be gentle towards others and have reverence towards God. Having the perfect balance isn’t easy, but when achieved, it stands out and calls people to Jesus in a way that is hard to comprehend.

> Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. (James 3:13-14)

Wisdom and understanding are only useful when they are lived out “*by … good behavior*” and when they are communicated “*in the gentleness of wisdom*.” “*Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition*” lead us and others away from the truth and away from a relationship with Jesus.

> Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)

When someone around you is guilty of any trespass, we want to correct them gently so they are restored into fellowship rather than shamed and pushed away. We also need to consider ourselves so we are not also tempted to sin.

We need to consider that we all have strengths and weaknesses. It is easy to criticize another, who is weak where we are strong, while missing the fact that this person may be strong where we are weak. Most of us are bad about criticizing another and not allowing excuses. At the same time, we are making excuses for where we are weak and fail miserably. When we have a proper view of our sin nature, we are less likely to have a “better than you” attitude which leads to a lack of gentleness in our correction. If we understand that we too are sinners, then we can gently correct with a humble spirit.

Be truthful but gentle, just as Jesus was truthful and gentle.

Trust Jesus.

FYI, my following posts will continue going through each of the individual[ fruits of the Spirit](https://trustjesus.substack.com/publish/post/146299038) listed in Galatians 5

Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated

Gentleness:  Fruits of the Spirit, Part 10

An explanation of Gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit

This is a long form article, you can read it in https://habla.news/a/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzprf5h5jryfqv2cm3wj3akxgc0za2rsfn4mrnndj2yep9naq5hcetqqxnzdejxgunjwfexcmn2dfcygkdmq


I wish you the best, but do consider the afterlife.  Everyone will have one.  Our decisions now (whether to accept Jesus or not) decides the kind of after life we all will experience.  It doesn't have to do with doing good or not.  It has to do with believing what the creator said to us and did for us.


If you are a chemical accident you can't create an immaterial soul.  You can think that you can, but you can't actually do it.  You also can't think those deep logical thoughts by random chemical reactions.  If you are chemical accident, how can you trust your senses or logic?


They are so logically inconsistent that it hurts my brain.


I generally like them, but like most things, they aren't right on everything.  They are yet another group that I trust, but verify.


The best way to produce a kid who can think for themselves and loves learning and seeking the truth is to homeschool them.

I don't understand people who don't love to read.
I don't understand people who don't seek the truth.
I don't understand people who blindly repeat what they are told with out verifying.


They will get people to use a CBDC by offering them a UBI that they can only receive and use in the CBDC.  Once everyone is switched over and using the CBDC, that is when they will start programming what you can and can't spend money on, when you can spend it and when it goes away, and shutting off money to those who don't act, speak, or think in the right way.  Almost everyone will switch to the CBDC to get their "free money".


I want to know how people can believe that we are all chemical accidents that evolved from pond scum, but we can be born in the wrong body.  If all we are is random chemical accidents, there isn't a soul or anything else indwelling our body.  If we do have a soul indwelling our body then God put it there and they need to listen to God's statement that He made them "male and female."

They can't have it both ways.  That is illogical.


At this point, I think the only way to end this nonsense is for the girls to refuse to play against boys pretending to be girls because they aren't good enough to compete against the boys.

It is particularly bad in the physical sports like boxing, but as shown in this article, it is a problem in all sports.  There is a reason girls and boys have separate sports.  If it makes people feel better, call them XX and XY sports and avoid the hurt feelings, but that is the only consideration that should be allowed.


We don't need to imagine, just open our eyes.


or worse.


I think the saying, "Writing checks your bank can't cash" is applicable here.

Between massive debt, driving the good soldiers out with clot shot mandates, giving away all of our weapons and ammo to Ukraine and others, and putting wokism over readiness, I don't think the US is the powerhouse they used to be and I am concerned that they (we) are going to find out the hard way.

freeborn | ἐλεύθερος


freeborn | ἐλεύθερος


When your businesses are located in a country, you want to influence politics in that country because it influences how your business does.

I own a business, but live outside of the city and that means I can't have an effect on the policies that effect my business.  It is not good.


I love my freeze dryer.  I've only used it for fruits and a few veggies.  I need to try it out on some meals.  That would be really handy.


See the whole [Fruits of the Spirit](https://trustjesus.substack.com/p/fruits-of-the-spirit-6fc) Series

Once again here are the fruits of the Spirit as defined in Galatians 5.

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

When going through the fruits of the Spirit, I like to always start with God’s Word, the Bible. In the case of faithfulness, I had a harder time finding verses that clearly defined faithfulness, so we are going to start with a dictionary definition and then fine tune it using the Bible.

### Definition

From Dictionary.com

#### faithfulness

**noun**

lasting loyalty and trustworthiness in relationships, especially marriage and friendship:

the fact or quality of being true to one’s word or commitments, as to what one has pledged to do, professes to believe, etc.::

the fact or quality of being dedicated and steadfast in performing one’s duty, working for a cause, etc.::

the quality of adhering to fact, a standard, or an original; accuracy::

Now lets start tweaking this definition. Biblical faithfulness does include “loyalty and trustworthiness in relationships” (especially our relationship to God). It does include “being true to one’s word or commitments” (especially commitments to God). It does include being dedicated and steadfast performing one’s duty (especially to God) and working for a cause (God’s will). It does include “adhering to fact, a standard, or an original” (God’s standard as defined in the Bible and lived out by Jesus).

I've heard lots of Christians make the statement, “love is an action (or choice), not a feeling.” I’d argue that faithfulness is the same. It is an action. It is the living out of our faith in an active, purposeful, and consistent manner in accordance with God’s will.

### Faithfulness Includes Works

Although James doesn’t actually use the word faithfulness, I think this passage does help with our understanding of faithfulness.

> What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-26)

If we are saved, we should have the fruits of the Spirit. If we have the fruits of the Spirit, we should have faithfulness. If we have faithfulness, our words and actions should show our faith. “*If someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?*” If we have saving faith, our works should show it and that is faithfulness. If our faith doesn’t change the way we live, it isn’t saving faith. “*If someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him*?” No it can’t. It is like the faith (belief) of the demons, and it does not lead to salvation.

A faith, without faithful works, is no faith at all. It is unfaithfulness. “*Faith without works is useless*.” *Faithfulness* is a sign that our faith is being perfected by God. “*Faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected*.”

I’d argue that Biblical faithfulness is faith working through the power of the Spirit.

> This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:18-20)

“*Fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience*.” Our Spirit-filled faithfulness leads to never giving up despite the hardship, never losing our faith in God, His will, and His goodness, and obeying God’s law so we can have a good conscience. 1 Timothy says that those who are not faithful may be “*handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme*.” We are called to be faithful always and we are enabled, by the Spirit, to be faithful.

### Choose Faithfulness

We do have to chose to be faithful, not just sit around, following the easy path, waiting for the Spirit to enliven us. We need to seek God. We need to study His word. We need pray for wisdom and strength. We need to follow God’s leading. Faithfulness is an action.

> My soul cleaves to the dust;

Revive me according to Your word.

I have told of my ways, and You have answered me;

Teach me Your statutes.

Make me understand the way of Your precepts,

So I will meditate on Your wonders.

My soul weeps because of grief;

Strengthen me according to Your word.

Remove the false way from me,

And graciously grant me Your law.

I have chosen the faithful way;

I have placed Your ordinances before me.

I cling to Your testimonies;

O Lord, do not put me to shame!

I shall run the way of Your commandments,

For You will enlarge my heart. (Psalm 119:25-32)

Chose the faithful way. Actively choose to be faithful and He will enable you to be faithful.

### God’s Example

One way we learn to be faithful is by seeing how God is faithful. We can look at how God was faithful with His promises to Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob (Israel). We can see how He was faithful to the nation Israel, even when they were not faithful. We can see how He was faithful with his followers in the New Testament.

> It is a trustworthy statement:

For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

If we endure, we will also reign with Him;

If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

God is faithfulness and we are made in His image. Sin has marred our Godly image, but faith in Jesus and the covering of His blood enables us to show that faithfulness again. When talking to Nicodemus, Jesus told him, “*Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God*.” (John 3:3) Part of being born again is being changed to become more like the image of God, and God is faithful. We must be faithful in the same way.

> Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. Therefore, you shall keep the commandment and the statutes and the judgments which I am commanding you today, to do them. (Deuteronomy 7:9-11)

Be faithful as God is faithful and keep His commandments as He keeps His promises.

> Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’ (Revelation 2:10-11)

Our faithfulness should be dependent on His faithfulness and not on our circumstances. We are told up front that most of us will face difficult times, even more so as the end times approach (which I believe is true of this generation). We will be persecuted. We will be disciplined. We will be pruned. We will be tested. We will die (sooner or later). Despite this, He will bring us through to glory. Be faithful unto death, whether a natural death at an old age or as a martyr for Christ.

### Blessings of Faithfulness

Luckily faithfulness is not all doom and gloom. God does promise blessings for those who are faithful. Some blessings may be in the present; some may be in the future; but we will be blessed.

> He who tills his land will have plenty of food,

But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.

A faithful man will abound with blessings,

But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 28:19-20)

Lastly I leave with you two verses of encouragement relating to faithfulness:

### And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. (Revelation 22:6)

and

> I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice,
In lovingkindness and in compassion,
And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness.
Then you will know the Lord. (Hosea 2:19-20)

Trust Jesus.

Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated

For more post check out my [TrustJesus.Substack.com](https://trustjesus.substack.com/)

Faithfulness:  Fruits of the Spirit Part 8

What is the fruit of the Spirit, Faithfulness?

This is a long form article, you can read it in https://habla.news/a/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzprf5h5jryfqv2cm3wj3akxgc0za2rsfn4mrnndj2yep9naq5hcetqqxnzdejxg6r2d3jxqergwfkzx9euq


I’ve heard lots of people complain about negative things that happen to them and heard them ask why something bad happened to them when they were basically “good” people.  I don’t think they fully understand God’s blessings.  God’s blessings are amazingly good, but they aren’t necessarily what we think they are or what we might ask for.

Now lets look at the woman who is considered the most blessed in history.

> Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”  (Luke 1:26-28)

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is called the favored one.  She is the most blessed of all.  After she conceived of the Holy Spirit, she went to visit her relative, Elizabeth, who was also pregnant.

> Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?  For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”  (Luke 1:39-45)

Mary was called blessed among women, her child was called blessed, and she was called blessed for believing the Angel who prophesied her pregnancy despite the fact that she had never “known” a man.  You could argue that she was the most blessed woman of all time because she was the mother of Jesus making her the physical mother of God.

Although looking at her life from the outside, most people would not call her blessed.  She was impregnated by the Holy Spirit, not a man, so the people around her thought she was guilty of adultery and that she was an immoral woman.  Her husband (fiance in modern terms, but in that day it was treated as married and a legal contract) almost divorced her.  Although not mentioned explicitly, textual evidence suggests her husband died early, leaving her a widow possibly even with multiple kids at home.  Her eldest son was crucified and died a most horrific, embarrassing, and cruel death in front of her.  Based on Jesus asking His apostle John to take care of His mother, it suggests her other sons were not doing their duty to provide for their widowed mother.

Does this sound like a blessing?  Most people would say, “No,” but the Bible calls her blessed.  Why is that?

Mary was used of God to fulfill His awesome purpose and to provide salvation to people around the world and throughout time.  Mary was a part of this work and is honored for allowing herself to be used in this way.  This is a blessing.  She got to spend 33 years with the creator of the world.  She got to hear His wisdom.  She had the best behaved child in history.  Yes, she was truly blessed and I believe she knew she was blessed.

So often in life we complain about the hardships in our life.  We complain that things aren’t fair.  Instead, we need to look and see what God is doing and join Him.  We need to study God’s word, obey His command, and love others.  When we are fully immersed in His will and His plan, we won’t hardly notice all the incumbent hardships that almost always come with a life fully devoted to God.

A Godly life isn’t an easy life, but it is a blessed life.

Go, and be blessed by God.

[Trust Jesus](https://trustjesus.substack.com/).

Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated

Blessing doesn't look like we thing it should look.

This is a long form article, you can read it in https://habla.news/a/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzprf5h5jryfqv2cm3wj3akxgc0za2rsfn4mrnndj2yep9naq5hcetqqxnzdejxgcrjdf4xsenwv3sjm27zs


I like the old saying, "If someone was trying to convict you of being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?"  I'd argue that the answer is "No" for most people who call themselves Christians.  It's sad.


We spent more than an hour on chat (after ~30 minutes on the phone where they would repeatedly hang up on us because it was more than 24 hours since the flight landed).  We kept asking the lady "Do you know where our bags are, or not?"  In more than an hour she never answered the question.

She'd reply, "You have to understand, I am a baggage specialist.  I don't look for the bags.  I can only tell you the status."

Yeah, then please tell us the status.

After an hour and 10 minutes, she ended the conversation with, "We have 24=48 hours to tell you where your bags are, so you need to wait 48 hours."

It would have been preferable for her to tell us that an hour ago, so we wouldn't have been late for my Dad's birthday dinner.

The good news is we finally got our bags after 30 hours of them refusing to give us a straight answer about anything.  I wish I could never fly again, but with family on the opposite side of the country, I kind of have to occassionally.


I'm waiting on my luggage from yesterday as well.  We checked 2 bags and they lost both.  It took them a little shy of a day to find it.  We had a direct flight and arrived 2 hours before our flight.

I used to enjoy flying, but hate it now.


If we want to find God’s definition of marriage, we want to start at the beginning.  As the song from “The Sound of Music” says,

> "Let's start at the very beginning.
A very good place to start.
When you read you begin withA, B, C."

With God’s word, we start with Genesis.  The foundation for almost every principle in the Bible is found in Genesis. (Which is one of many reasons to take Genesis literally.  If we don’t we lose the entire foundation of the Gospel)

### What is Marriage?

Even before we get the definition of marriage, we need God’s definition (and creation) of man and woman.

> Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  (Genesis 1:26-28)  {emphasis mine}

To begin to understand marriage, we have to know what makes up marriage.  Marriage is made up of one male and one female created by God for a purpose.  What was that purpose?  The purpose of the human couple was to “*Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it*.”

This purpose is stated more than once in the Bible.  It is stated at creation as shown above.  It is stated twice immediately after Noah exited the Ark at the end of the flood.  “*And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth*.”  (Genesis 9:1)  and “*As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it*.”  (Genesis 9:7)  Late in Jacob’s life, when God changed his name to Israel,

> “God also said to him,“I am God Almighty;Be fruitful and multiply;A nation and a company of nations shall come from you,And kings shall come forth from you.The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac,I will give it to you,And I will give the land to your descendants after you.”  (Genesis 35:11-12)   {emphasis mine}

Even much later in Israel’s history, Jeremiah is told by God,

> “Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply.”  (Jeremiah 23:3)

Being fruitful, multiplying, and filling the Earth has been God’s will and command since the beginning of time.

In Genesis 2, God gives a description of the first marriage and why He created and prescribed it.

> Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”  Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.  The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.  So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.  The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.  And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.  (Genesis 2:18-25)   {emphasis mine}

God, as a triune God, understands that it is not good to be alone.  As God is the unified three persons, the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit and as they work together with one will, so God intends the man and woman to become one flesh and to work together with one will.  No one (human) can truly be successful if he is alone.  God created a helper for the man, Adam, to aid him in obeying God’s command to “*Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it*.”  The husband and wife are called to work together to obey God’s will.

God says that His institute of marriage will cause the man to “*be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh*.”  The will be inseparably one just as the Trinity is inseparably one God while still being 3 persons.

Also listen to the last statement in this passage, “*And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed*.”  In a perfect, Godly marriage, the man and woman should be so much one flesh that they can be naked, physically and emotionally, and not be ashamed.  True, with the sin nature we all have today, this is never 100% lived out, but if we are living according to the will of God and trusting in His righteousness, we can approach this ideal as it was originally in the Garden of Eden.

### The God Prescribed Organization of Marriage

For any group of people to act in concert, the group needs an organization of the roles of each person in the group.  Sometimes this is a formal list of roles.  Sometimes everyone just naturally takes a role and works together, but there is always some kind of role.  (Even the Father, Son, and Spirit have different roles within the Godhead.)  God has prescribed the man to be the leader, provider, and protector in marriage (family).  He has prescribed the woman to be the helper, the nurturer, and the homemaker.

Unfortunately, in today’s culture, God’s command that the man be the leader is not taken very well and is misinterpreted and misapplied by both men and women.  To often this interpreted to mean that the man has more value and more importance than the woman.  This is a complete lie.

This passage is talking about how all Christians are given different spiritual gifts, but we are all part of the body and all parts are necessary for the body to work properly.  In the same way, in a marriage or family, all members have different gifts, skills, and responsibilities, but all are necessary for the marriage or family to work together for the good of the family and for God’s will.

> For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body is not one member, but many.  If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?  But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.  If they were all one member, where would the body be?  But now there are many members, but one body.  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”  On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.  (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)   {emphasis mine}

Just as God made the husband and wife one flesh, so also He made the Church one body.  Because of this similarity, I believe this passage can be applied to marriage.

“*All the members of the body, though they are many, are one body*.”  God has made the husband and wife one flesh or one body that should work as one to serve God and His will.  Just as you take care of yourself and your body, so you should take care of your spouse because they are one with you.

“*God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired*.”  Just as God puts members of the church in the positions He desires:  “*And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers*,”  (Ephesians 4:11) so He also puts the husband and the wife in the position He desires.  (We will get more into this below.)

“*The members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor.*”  Many people, especially women, resent that the husband is put in authority over the woman.  They think this makes a woman have less honor, or even worse, make her the husband’s property.  This is definitely not what God desires.  God actually expects a husband to treat his wife with great respect and honor and punishes a husband who fails to do so.  “*You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered*.”  (1 Peter 3:7) A wise husband will always seek his wife’s advice, especially when it is an area where she excels and he does not, but when you have a group, you always need someone to make the final decision when an agreement cannot be reached.  This responsibility lies with the husband.  This is not an easy burden.

“*So that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another*.”  God gives each member of the family different responsibilities so they can care for each other, not compete with each other, and so “*there may be no division*.”  Have you ever had several people trying to complete the same task, at the same time, and in the same small space?  Everyone is stepping on each other and grabbing things at the same time, and getting in each others way.  It works much better if you divide the whole task into multiple smaller tasks where each person has their own task to complete and then things are brought together to complete the overall task.  This is God’s design for marriage.  He made man and woman to complement each other.  He made them so the whole (marriage) is greater than the parts (the man and woman).  This is God’s perfect design.

### God’s Role for Wives

Don’t shoot the messenger, but this is what God says:

> Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.  But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.  (Ephesians 5:22-24)

God clearly tells women to “*be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord*.”  If you notice, it says to “*be subject to your own husbands*.”  It does not say that all women are subject to all men.  It is not devaluing women.  It is defining the design of marriage and the family so it functions as God designed.

If you are a young woman who is not yet married, this should be a wakeup call in your search for a husband.  You are commanded “*be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord*.”  Too often women marry a man because of his looks, his money (ability to provide), or because they want to “mother” and “fix” him.  They marry the man because he “needs” me.  This is unwise.  If you are dating a man or considering marrying a man, can you imagine continually submitting to him?  If not, you may want to reconsider your relationship.

When I was young and single, I wasn’t actively searching for a husband, but I had a rule for myself.  If I ever reached the point in my relationship with a man that I realized I could never marry him, I would immediately end the relationship even if it was enjoyable at the time.  I didn’t want to form an attachment to someone who would be a bad husband, or even just a bad husband for me.

For those women who are already married, you don’t have this option.  You are called to submit.  You may ask, “Is there any time in which you would be called to not submit to your husband?”  Yes, but be careful.  If you are truly being called to disobey God’s clear commands, you should definitely obey God rather than man, but make sure you don’t use this freedom to disobey when there is a preference involved, even if that is a Godly preference.

> In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.  (1 Peter 31-2)

This could be an opportunity to win your husband for Christ or to bring him back to Christ, if he has just drifted away.

Especially if you have a godless or disobedient husband, this command to submit will be difficult, but the best things in life usually are difficult.  You will be blessed by God for being a Godly wife.

If you are like me, the wife of a Godly husband who lives his life by God’s command and takes his role as the Godly role model seriously, you are truly blessed.  Don’t forget this blessing and dwell on any particular small faults.  Lift him up and praise him for his Godly traits and you will likely see them grow and bloom.

### God’s Role for Husbands

Technically, husbands have higher and harder responsibilities than wives.

> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,  (Ephesians 5:25-29)

Husbands are called to “*love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church*.”  This is a high bar to meet.  Husbands you are to have the love of Christ in every thing you do for, to, and with your wife.  You are to put your wife before yourself just as “*[Jesus] *gave Himself up for her* [the church]*.”

Just as submitting is not easy, putting another’s good before your own is not easy.  Ironically the best way to accomplish this isn’t by focusing totally on your wife.  It is by focusing totally on God and His will.  If you have totally submitted to God’s will and are trusting in His plan, He will enable you to have the love of Christ and to love your wife as yourself.  (This also helps wives to submit to their husbands.)  If you have totally submitted to God, this will enable you to love your family and be the Godly leader God has called you to be.

### Circling Back to the Beginning for God’s Blessing

> Because we are members of His body.  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.  Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.  (Ephesians 5:30-33)

Do you remember what we learned in Genesis at the beginning of this article?  We learned that, “*a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh*.”  God’s creation and design of man and woman are the basis for the whole design of marriage described in the New Testament.

Also notice the comparison between marriage and the Church.  “*Because we are members of His body.  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh*.”  Just as a husband and wife become one flesh in marriage, so also all Christians become one body with Christ.  God joins us together so we can experience a tiny hint of what He is in the Trinity.  Just as God is 3 persons in 1 God, so also a husband and wife become one flesh in marriage and the Church becomes one body in Jesus.  We gain a closeness that cannot be achieved through any human means.

Don’t allow culture and our own feelings/opinions to redefine marriage and destroy the blessing that God has given us.

Trust Jesus.

Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated.

# *** Interesting Side Issue ***

I just read an [article](https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/07/20/perplexity-search-engine.aspx) about a newish AI, Perplexity.ai that does a good job giving you the truth and gives references to where it found information.  It also suggests additional, related subjects to investigate.

I do not use AI to help write my articles, but having just written this one, I asked Perplexity, "**What does the Bible say about the purpose and design of marriage?**"  This was its response (and I was impressed):

#### Answer

According to the Bible, God designed marriage with several key purposes:

Companionship and partnership: God created marriage to provide companionship, stating "It is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18).  Marriage is meant to be a unique union between a man and a woman where they become "one flesh" (Genesis 2:24).

Procreation and raising children: One purpose of marriage is to "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28).  The sexual union in marriage was designed in part to bring forth children who are to be raised "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).

Spiritual intimacy and growth: Marriage provides an opportunity for a couple to pursue God together and help each other grow spiritually. It allows spouses to model God's love and forgiveness to each other.

Reflecting God's relationship with His people: Marriage is meant to be a picture of God's covenant relationship with believers. Throughout Scripture, marriage imagery is used to describe God's love for Israel and Christ's love for the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32).

Mutual support and sanctification: The challenges and joys of marriage are meant to draw spouses closer to God and make them more holy. Spouses are to help steer each other toward God.
Glorifying God: Ultimately, marriage is designed to bring glory to God by reflecting His character and love to the world. A godly marriage can be a powerful witness.

The Bible emphasizes that marriage is God's idea and design, not a human invention. It is meant to be a lifelong, exclusive covenant between one man and one woman. While personal happiness is not the primary purpose, a marriage that follows God's design can lead to deep fulfillment as couples grow together in faith and love.

### Related

How does the Bible describe the roles of husband and wife

What does the Bible say about the purpose of marriage in the New Testament

How does the Bible compare marriage to the relationship between God and His people

What are the main differences between God's design for marriage and modern views

How does the Bible address the issue of divorce within marriage

The related items are suggested follow up queries related to the question asked.  I was shocked at how well the AI did.  Although I would never fully trust AI to give me Biblical answers, it looks like this AI could be useful to start research on the topic.

FYI, my copy doesn't have the links to sources that the AI gives because that was too much work to implement easily in my NOSTR editor.

A description of God's design of man & woman, marriage, and the role of each in marriage.  Also describes the blessings of a Godly marriage

This is a long form article, you can read it in https://habla.news/a/naddr1qvzqqqr4gupzprf5h5jryfqv2cm3wj3akxgc0za2rsfn4mrnndj2yep9naq5hcetqqxnzdejxymr2wpjxqmnxvp3vm92rg


She just might be more of an idiot than totally senile Biden.


Rob Braxman has some good information.  https://odysee.com/@RobBraxmanTech:6


I am absolutely shocked she became the nominee.  I didn't think anyone, left, right, or center liked her.  She is dumb as rocks.  She is hateful and corrupt.  She slept her way to the top.  She has less than zero charisma.  It looks like the Dems were really certain that Trump would be taken out and they are falling apart.

If I were her, I'd be watching my back and go back to the old days of having a food taster.


That's a nice way to make sure no apartments are available, or if they are, they have zero maintenance and everything is falling apart.  This all happened with rent control in NYC (among other places).


I was going to say that there are plenty of good paying welding jobs in the oil fields in Wyoming and Wyoming doesn't have a state income tax, but if the mid west is too far from family, Wyoming is way too far.


Haven't a bunch of Republicans gone to jail for much less than this?


Meeting with all 3 makes sense.  I do have a problem with any foreign leader speaking to Congress.

 Congress is supposed to represent American citizens, not foreign interests.  No foreigner should be allowed to stand up and tell (or beg) Congress what to do.  I don't care who the person is or which country they represent.  It is wrong.

A foreign leader can meet with government officials.  A foreign leader can even give a speech on American soil, but they should not do it from the floor of Congress.


That is a start, but I sure hope her resignation doesn't lead to everyone ending the investigations into what happened.  I have doubts that she is smart enough to coordinate what happened, and I know she can't have done it all by herself.  I'm worried she will just be a fall guy used to end the investigation.


Great post!  Welcome to NOSTR.

My youngest has Down Syndrome and had a bunch of major health problems when he was little.  Because he needed my attention so much, it was easy to give what little energy I had to him alone.  (His health problems included frequent breathing problems, so I never once went into a deep sleep for 2+ years and therefore was barely functioning.)  Because it was so hard to give anything to my older son or my husband, I had to schedule them in.  I always devoted 30 minutes to my eldest son, every afternoon during my youngest's nap time.  It would be tempting to use this time to get household chores done or to try to rest, but even though my oldest was pretty self-sufficient, he still needed Mom time.  I've never regretted that time with him and we are close to this day.  (He is now in college.)


If by "destabilize nations" she means "destabilize governments," I'm all in.


We are not in control, but God is and we know how the story ends.


I just read an article on Mercola.com about a new AI, Perplexity.ai, that does some things differently to try to prevent the hallucinations and lies that some of the  AI tell.  It also gives every answer with sources, so you can verify the information.  It also recommends additional, related topics to investigate.

I had just written an article on God's definition of marriage, so I asked it, "What does the Bible say about the purpose and design of marriage?"  I was really impressed with its answer and the suggested follow up questions.

Although I would never trust AI to give me the perfect answer to a spiritual question, this one worked well enough, it could be useful for research or getting started on an idea.

#grownostr  #christianity  #research  #ai  #searchengine


Amen


If we want to find God’s definition of marriage, we want to start at the beginning.  As the song from “The Sound of Music” says,

> "Let's start at the very beginning.
A very good place to start.
When you read you begin withA, B, C."

With God’s word, we start with Genesis.  The foundation for almost every principle in the Bible is found in Genesis. (Which is one of many reasons to take Genesis literally.  If we don’t we lose the entire foundation of the Gospel)

### What is Marriage?

Even before we get the definition of marriage, we need God’s definition (and creation) of man and woman.

> Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  (Genesis 1:26-28)  {emphasis mine}

To begin to understand marriage, we have to know what makes up marriage.  Marriage is made up of one male and one female created by God for a purpose.  What was that purpose?  The purpose of the human couple was to “*Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it*.”

This purpose is stated more than once in the Bible.  It is stated at creation as shown above.  It is stated twice immediately after Noah exited the Ark at the end of the flood.  “*And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth*.”  (Genesis 9:1)  and “*As for you, be fruitful and multiply; Populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it*.”  (Genesis 9:7)  Late in Jacob’s life, when God changed his name to Israel,

> “God also said to him,“I am God Almighty;Be fruitful and multiply;A nation and a company of nations shall come from you,And kings shall come forth from you.The land which I gave to Abraham and Isaac,I will give it to you,And I will give the land to your descendants after you.”  (Genesis 35:11-12)   {emphasis mine}

Even much later in Israel’s history, Jeremiah is told by God,

> “Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply.”  (Jeremiah 23:3)

Being fruitful, multiplying, and filling the Earth has been God’s will and command since the beginning of time.

In Genesis 2, God gives a description of the first marriage and why He created and prescribed it.

> Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”  Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.  The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.  So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.  The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said,

“This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.  And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.  (Genesis 2:18-25)   {emphasis mine}

God, as a triune God, understands that it is not good to be alone.  As God is the unified three persons, the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit and as they work together with one will, so God intends the man and woman to become one flesh and to work together with one will.  No one (human) can truly be successful if he is alone.  God created a helper for the man, Adam, to aid him in obeying God’s command to “*Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it*.”  The husband and wife are called to work together to obey God’s will.

God says that His institute of marriage will cause the man to “*be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh*.”  The will be inseparably one just as the Trinity is inseparably one God while still being 3 persons.

Also listen to the last statement in this passage, “*And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed*.”  In a perfect, Godly marriage, the man and woman should be so much one flesh that they can be naked, physically and emotionally, and not be ashamed.  True, with the sin nature we all have today, this is never 100% lived out, but if we are living according to the will of God and trusting in His righteousness, we can approach this ideal as it was originally in the Garden of Eden.

### The God Prescribed Organization of Marriage

For any group of people to act in concert, the group needs an organization of the roles of each person in the group.  Sometimes this is a formal list of roles.  Sometimes everyone just naturally takes a role and works together, but there is always some kind of role.  (Even the Father, Son, and Spirit have different roles within the Godhead.)  God has prescribed the man to be the leader, provider, and protector in marriage (family).  He has prescribed the woman to be the helper, the nurturer, and the homemaker.

Unfortunately, in today’s culture, God’s command that the man be the leader is not taken very well and is misinterpreted and misapplied by both men and women.  To often this interpreted to mean that the man has more value and more importance than the woman.  This is a complete lie.

This passage is talking about how all Christians are given different spiritual gifts, but we are all part of the body and all parts are necessary for the body to work properly.  In the same way, in a marriage or family, all members have different gifts, skills, and responsibilities, but all are necessary for the marriage or family to work together for the good of the family and for God’s will.

> For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body is not one member, but many.  If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?  But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.  If they were all one member, where would the body be?  But now there are many members, but one body.  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”  On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.  (1 Corinthians 12:12-26)   {emphasis mine}

Just as God made the husband and wife one flesh, so also He made the Church one body.  Because of this similarity, I believe this passage can be applied to marriage.

“*All the members of the body, though they are many, are one body*.”  God has made the husband and wife one flesh or one body that should work as one to serve God and His will.  Just as you take care of yourself and your body, so you should take care of your spouse because they are one with you.

“*God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired*.”  Just as God puts members of the church in the positions He desires:  “*And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers*,”  (Ephesians 4:11) so He also puts the husband and the wife in the position He desires.  (We will get more into this below.)

“*The members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor.*”  Many people, especially women, resent that the husband is put in authority over the woman.  They think this makes a woman have less honor, or even worse, make her the husband’s property.  This is definitely not what God desires.  God actually expects a husband to treat his wife with great respect and honor and punishes a husband who fails to do so.  “*You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered*.”  (1 Peter 3:7) A wise husband will always seek his wife’s advice, especially when it is an area where she excels and he does not, but when you have a group, you always need someone to make the final decision when an agreement cannot be reached.  This responsibility lies with the husband.  This is not an easy burden.

“*So that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another*.”  God gives each member of the family different responsibilities so they can care for each other, not compete with each other, and so “*there may be no division*.”  Have you ever had several people trying to complete the same task, at the same time, and in the same small space?  Everyone is stepping on each other and grabbing things at the same time, and getting in each others way.  It works much better if you divide the whole task into multiple smaller tasks where each person has their own task to complete and then things are brought together to complete the overall task.  This is God’s design for marriage.  He made man and woman to complement each other.  He made them so the whole (marriage) is greater than the parts (the man and woman).  This is God’s perfect design.

### God’s Role for Wives

Don’t shoot the messenger, but this is what God says:

> Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.  But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.  (Ephesians 5:22-24)

God clearly tells women to “*be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord*.”  If you notice, it says to “*be subject to your own husbands*.”  It does not say that all women are subject to all men.  It is not devaluing women.  It is defining the design of marriage and the family so it functions as God designed.

If you are a young woman who is not yet married, this should be a wakeup call in your search for a husband.  You are commanded “*be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord*.”  Too often women marry a man because of his looks, his money (ability to provide), or because they want to “mother” and “fix” him.  They marry the man because he “needs” me.  This is unwise.  If you are dating a man or considering marrying a man, can you imagine continually submitting to him?  If not, you may want to reconsider your relationship.

When I was young and single, I wasn’t actively searching for a husband, but I had a rule for myself.  If I ever reached the point in my relationship with a man that I realized I could never marry him, I would immediately end the relationship even if it was enjoyable at the time.  I didn’t want to form an attachment to someone who would be a bad husband, or even just a bad husband for me.

For those women who are already married, you don’t have this option.  You are called to submit.  You may ask, “Is there any time in which you would be called to not submit to your husband?”  Yes, but be careful.  If you are truly being called to disobey God’s clear commands, you should definitely obey God rather than man, but make sure you don’t use this freedom to disobey when there is a preference involved, even if that is a Godly preference.

> In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.  (1 Peter 31-2)

This could be an opportunity to win your husband for Christ or to bring him back to Christ, if he has just drifted away.

Especially if you have a godless or disobedient husband, this command to submit will be difficult, but the best things in life usually are difficult.  You will be blessed by God for being a Godly wife.

If you are like me, the wife of a Godly husband who lives his life by God’s command and takes his role as the Godly role model seriously, you are truly blessed.  Don’t forget this blessing and dwell on any particular small faults.  Lift him up and praise him for his Godly traits and you will likely see them grow and bloom.

### God’s Role for Husbands

Technically, husbands have higher and harder responsibilities than wives.

> Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,  (Ephesians 5:25-29)

Husbands are called to “*love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church*.”  This is a high bar to meet.  Husbands you are to have the love of Christ in every thing you do for, to, and with your wife.  You are to put your wife before yourself just as “*[Jesus] *gave Himself up for her* [the church]*.”

Just as submitting is not easy, putting another’s good before your own is not easy.  Ironically the best way to accomplish this isn’t by focusing totally on your wife.  It is by focusing totally on God and His will.  If you have totally submitted to God’s will and are trusting in His plan, He will enable you to have the love of Christ and to love your wife as yourself.  (This also helps wives to submit to their husbands.)  If you have totally submitted to God, this will enable you to love your family and be the Godly leader God has called you to be.

### Circling Back to the Beginning for God’s Blessing

> Because we are members of His body.  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.  This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.  Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.  (Ephesians 5:30-33)

Do you remember what we learned in Genesis at the beginning of this article?  We learned that, “*a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh*.”  God’s creation and design of man and woman are the basis for the whole design of marriage described in the New Testament.

Also notice the comparison between marriage and the Church.  “*Because we are members of His body.  For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh*.”  Just as a husband and wife become one flesh in marriage, so also all Christians become one body with Christ.  God joins us together so we can experience a tiny hint of what He is in the Trinity.  Just as God is 3 persons in 1 God, so also a husband and wife become one flesh in marriage and the Church becomes one body in Jesus.  We gain a closeness that cannot be achieved through any human means.

Don’t allow culture and our own feelings/opinions to redefine marriage and destroy the blessing that God has given us.

Trust Jesus.

Bible verses are NASB (New American Standard Bible) 1995 edition unless otherwise stated.