A Christian’s first love is for GodA Christian’s first love is for God

Faith expresses itself through loveFaith expresses itself through love

‘‘Serve one another in Serve one another in love’love’

A Christian’s chief joy is their joy in A Christian’s chief joy is their joy in God God

Joy is inexplicable, humanly speakingJoy is inexplicable, humanly speaking

’’a oneness with God that rises above a oneness with God that rises above the circumstances of pain and the circumstances of pain and disappointment and produces a song disappointment and produces a song in the night’ in the night’ (Job 35:10)(Job 35:10)

A Christian’s deepest peace is their peace A Christian’s deepest peace is their peace with Godwith God

In the storms of life, Jesus says ‘peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be

troubled’

A A tranquillity of heart and mind that is based tranquillity of heart and mind that is based on the gospel that gives peace on the gospel that gives peace withwith God and God and

the peace the peace ofof God God

Associated with mercyAssociated with mercy

They called him (Jesus) every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God put

things right (1 Peter 2:23, The Message)

That quality of longsuffering; self-restraint in the face That quality of longsuffering; self-restraint in the face of provocation; doesn’t hastily retaliate or promptly of provocation; doesn’t hastily retaliate or promptly punish. It stays with people even when constantly punish. It stays with people even when constantly

wronged or irritated by themwronged or irritated by them

A question of dispositionA question of disposition

Generosity to others, no matter who they Generosity to others, no matter who they are; graciousness in its treatment are; graciousness in its treatment

towards all people. Kind to the unkind towards all people. Kind to the unkind because that is how God has treated mebecause that is how God has treated me

Kindness makes us useful, in all sorts of Kindness makes us useful, in all sorts of situationssituations

God is good ~ God’s goodness motivatesGod is good ~ God’s goodness motivates

Goodness can never do the bare Goodness can never do the bare minimum or fail to go the second mile. A minimum or fail to go the second mile. A

giving that comes from the heartgiving that comes from the heart

A focus on God and what he tells us is good A focus on God and what he tells us is good and not what the world says is good and not what the world says is good

God is faithfulGod is faithful

Keeping promises; the attribute of a good Keeping promises; the attribute of a good steward; the quality of keeping steward; the quality of keeping commitments in a relationship. commitments in a relationship.

A faithful person will be richly blessed (Proverbs 28:20)

Humble meekness which Christ exhibitedHumble meekness which Christ exhibited

Opposite of selfish ambition; not Opposite of selfish ambition; not conceited, provoking or envying of conceited, provoking or envying of

others; considering the needs and hurts others; considering the needs and hurts of others before one’s personal goalsof others before one’s personal goals

Nothing is won by forceNothing is won by force

Opposite of self indulgence; the mastery Opposite of self indulgence; the mastery of one's desires and impulsesof one's desires and impulses; being in being in

control of one's selfcontrol of one's self In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.

Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control,

and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly

affection with love for everyone (2 Peter 1:5-7)

Of all the things we have to govern in this life, self is often our greatest challenge!