Endangered Virtues

 Jennifer Lynn Joy © 2005

Graham Cooke writes in his book, The Divine Confrontation the following description of God.

God sits outside of time. He has never not been full of Glory. He is altogether glorious. Everything He touches carries the fragrance and the passion of His manifest presence. He is wonderful, awe-inspiring, and magnificent. For me, He has come to be the kindest person I have ever known. He is kindhearted, cordial, approachable, and thoughtful. He is slow to anger and swift to bless. He sees the good, acknowledging the treasure and the worth in people. He inspires confidence, renews our self-worth, and puts a smile on our hearts. He is captivating, beautiful, and completely lovely. He is strong, powerful, a force to be reckoned with, a conqueror and overcomer. He is a paradox – a fierce and mighty warrior dressed as a lamb; the king of glory and a bruised reed; a son, a servant, a prophet, a priest and a king. The fear of Him is the beginning of wisdom, yet His laughter makes us wriggle with pleasure. He continually brings us to points of vulnerability and weakness so that His sheer joy in Himself can be our source of strength.

The title of this teaching “Endangered Virtues” is about character virtues that we find to be increasingly rare in today’s world. I have chosen twelve different defined virtues of God to share with you. As we daily purpose to spend time in the presence of God, we will be become more like Him because HIS presence changes everything including us.

The first virtue is INTEGRITY which is defined as being complete, in an unbroken condition, wholeness, being unimpaired, the quality or state of being of sound moral principal, upright, honest, and sincere. David writes in Psalm 41:12, “As for me, You uphold me in my integrity and set me before Your face forever.”  

The second virtue is GOOD NATURED, which means having or showing a good nature, to be pleasant and agreeable.  In Genesis 50:20, Joseph is speaking to his brothers. “But as for you, you meant evil against me, but GOD meant it for good in order to bring it about as it is this day to save many people.”

TRUTH the third virtue is described as loyalty, trustworthiness, being sincere, genuine and honest. The kind of friend everyone wants to have. Deuteronomy 31:10 records this about God. “HE is the Rock. HIS work is perfect! For all HIS ways are justice. A GOD of truth and without injustice. Righteous and Upright is HE!”

With an Apostolic father’s voice, Graham continues, Our meetings very often do not reflect God’s nature, but ours. They focus on our needs instead of celebrating who He is in our midst. How many of our people take time out during the day to spend just a few minutes in silent worship and awe of God? Whatever God is, He is – infinitely. It is impossible for God not to be everlasting, endless, and eternal. He is the greatest endless and eternal expression of goodness, kindness, and grace. He is everlastingly kind and merciful, eternally loving. He loves infinitely and without boundaries. There is no end to the kindness of God.

Nehemiah describes God this way, “But YOU are GOD, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abundant in kindness." (Nehemiah 9:17b) The fourth virtue is KINDNESS - the state or quality of being kind, which is to be gracious, agreeable and pleasant.

Last year I asked the Holy Spirit to show me tangible things that I could do to change the atmosphere around me. He was gracious to show me many different little things that make a huge difference, to move with intent in the spirit of kindness. Usually it meant putting someone else's needs above my own. While standing in line at any store it meant giving up my place in line and with purposed kindness delaying all the other things that I had to do that seemed important. Usually the response was delightful surprise and gratitude. During the holidays I took the time to send cards of encouragement to my local City Government. Surprisingly, the mayor of my city wrote me a personal note of thanks. Additionally, through out the year, I sent hand written thank you notes, which is becoming a lost art. The Holy Spirit showed me countless opportunities throughout the year with simple acts of kindness that anyone could do anywhere anytime. Each time the kindness changed the atmosphere to be more like the presence of GOD.

GRACIOUSNESS is the fifth virtue defined as courtesy, kindness, merciful and compassionate. Jonah the prophet proclaims this about Yahweh, “I know that you are a gracious and compassionate God, long-suffering, ever constant, always ready to relent and not inflict punishment.” (Jonah 4:2)

Like a child bragging about his parent, Graham continues, GOD is also totally perfect. He never does anything partway. He completes everything He starts. He does everything perfectly. He is infinitely good and perfectly good. He has perfect love and grace. His love is complete, wholesome, and endlessly perfect! He is always loving because He is infinite and perfect.

The sixth virtue is SYMPATHY meaning sameness of feeling, harmony, in one accord and a mutual understanding. In the book of Hosea the LORD GOD speaks to HIS prophet “A change of heart moves me and tenderness kindles within me.” (Hosea 11:8)

King Solomon wrote, “A generous person enjoys prosperity, and one who refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25) Of noble birth, having the qualities attributed to people of noble birth, noble minded, gracious, willing to give or share, unselfish, rich in yield and fertile is the definition of the seventh virtue GENEROSITY.

With the fervor of an Old Testament prophet, Graham continues, God is immutable. He never changes. What God was, God is and God will be. There is no shadow of turning within Him. He is unchanging. What a relief! We all have experienced the fluctuating fortunes of human relationships and been both blessed and burned. I love the ongoing continuity of God’s affection for me. He put me in the one place where I could relate to Him in all of my unchangeableness. He put me in Christ Jesus so that His unchanging, infinite, and perfect love could become a constant to me as I grew up in Him.

The eighth virtue is THOUGHTFUL meaning careful, attentive, showing thought for the comfort or well being of others by anticipating their needs.  David sings this in Psalm 139, “O LORD, You have examined me and you know me. You know me at rest and in action; you discern my thoughts from afar. You trace my journeying and my resting places, and are familiar with all the paths I take.”

CORDIAL the ninth virtue is described as stimulating the heart, invigorating, receiving, warm, friendly, sincere, with deep feelings. Solomon records in Proverbs 17:17,  “A friend loves at ALL times.”

In Matthew 6:4 Jesus is speaking to HIS disciples and says, “But when you do a charitable deed…” Note the assumption - HE didn’t say if you do, HE said WHEN – obviously He anticipated them to be charitable. Does GOD anticipate that you will be charitable? The tenth virtue is BENEVOLENT defined as doing or inclined to do good, be kindly and act charitable.

The eleventh virtue is COMPASSION meaning to feel sorrow for the sufferings of others with an urge to help. Mark records this attitude in Christ Jesus in chapter 8, verse 2 where Jesus is speaking to HIS disciples when he says, “I have compassion on the multitude.” And then HE fed them.  Note that: HE didn’t leave and take care of HIS own needs first. To be like JESUS is to have compassion just like HIS for others.

The last virtue is LOVING which means feeling love, devoted, expressive love. The Apostle Paul writes in I Corinthians 13, “ Love is patient and kind. Love envies no one, is never boastful, never conceited, never rude. Love is never selfish, never quick to take offense. Love keeps no score of wrongs, takes no pleasure in the sins of others, but delights in the truth. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, its endurance. Love will never come to an end.”

Gently and lovingly Graham brings his essay on the virtues of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY to a close, He brings peace to me by His constancy. I feel my heart settling down into Him in the turbulence of situations and events. In crisis and conflicts I find myself wanting harmony and love rather than just resolution. To agree to disagree and remain loving friends is a sure sign that God is among us and that we are in love with Him.

The virtues of GOD continue to challenge and overwhelm me daily as I spend time in my FATHER’s presence. In all things I agree with Graham’s description of GOD and would only add one thing, that HE is my PAPA G! (an endearing term for the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!)

My pursuit of the Holy Spirit regarding the acts of kindness was motivated by the following story. I thought certainly if a six-year can change the atmosphere of one restaurant, I could do something to change the atmosphere around me.

A Little Ice Cream

Last week I took my children to a restaurant.
My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.
As we bowed our heads he said,
"God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would
even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And
Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard
a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country.
Kids today don't even know how to pray.
Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me,
"Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"
As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific
job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman
approached the table.

He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought
that was a great prayer."
"Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied
Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman
whose remark had started this whole thing), "too bad she never
asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul
sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal.
My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will
remember the rest of my life.
He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and
placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her,
"Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul
sometimes, and my soul is good already."
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~