Discussion Questions: Lesson 30
DQ#9
DQ9: List five (5) personal qualities that we attain that can be ascribed to following God. What are some specific ways they can be used to glorify Him?
- We attain the personal quality of love as a result of following Adonai. In the Shema we are instructed to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts and souls and strength. (see Deuteronomy 6:5). We are also instructed to love our neighbor as ourselves. (see Leviticus 19:18). Yeshua confirmed that these are the greatest commandments, to love Adonai with all our hearts, souls and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. (see Matthew 22:36-40). Yeshua said that we are to love even our enemies and pray for those who persecute us so that we will become children of our Father in Heaven. (see Matthew 5:44-45). Love is one of the fruits of the Spirit. (see Galatians 5:22). His commandments help us to walk out this love in compassion and kindness. We are told that Adonai is Light and if we keep loving our brother we remain in His Light. (see 1 John 2:9-10). We are told that we can distinguish God’s children from HaSatan’s because Adonai’s children continue to do what is right and they do not fail to keep loving their brother. (see 1 John 3:10-11). Yeshua warned us that peoples’ love will grow cold because of their distancing themselves from the Torah. (see Matthew 24:12). Loving people reflects Adonai’s love and glorifies Him.
- We attain peace as we keep our minds stayed upon Adonai. He keeps us in perfect peace because we trust in Him, (see Isaiah 26:3). Peace is also listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. (see Galatians 5:22). It is written that those that love Adonai’s Torah have great peace and nothing makes them to stumble. (see Psalms 119:165). The ways of wisdom are pleasant and all her paths are peace. (see Proverbs 3:17). We are instructed to have salt within ourselves, that is to be at peace with each other. (see Mark 9:50). We are told that the wisdom that is from above is pure, peaceful, kind, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruit; and peacemakers who sow seed in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (see James 3:17). Yeshua said that those who make peace are called sons of God. (see Matthew 5:9). Therefore, when we pursue peace, we are behaving like God’s children and glorifying Him.
- Joy is another personal quality that we attain as we follow Adonai. Joy is also listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. (see Galatians 5:22). Those who love the name of Adonai will be glad and will be strengthened as they take refuge in Him, and they will rejoice. (see Psalms 5:12). Adonai makes us to know the path of life; in His presence is unbounded joy, in His right-hand eternal delights. (see Ps. 16:11). Since Adonai is our strength and shield and our hearts trust in Him, our hearts are filled with joy. (see Psalms 23:7). Doing Adonai’s will is our joy. (see Psalms 40:9). As we lift our hearts up to Him, they are filled with joy. (see Psalms 86:4). Yeshua said that if we keep His commandments we will stay in His love and His joy will be in us and it will be complete. (see John 15:10-11). It is God alone who can keep us from falling and set us without defect and full of joy in the presence of His Sh’khinah, through Yeshua the Messiah. (see Jude 1:24-25). Being filled with joy glorifies Adonai as the One who fills us with joy.
- Patience is another personal quality that we attain as we follow Adonai. It is also listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. (see Galatians 5:22). We are instructed to be still before Adonai and wait patiently until He comes. (see Psalms 37:7). Patient people do not stir up strife, but they quiet quarrels. (see Proverbs 15:18). It is good to wait patiently for the saving hope of Adonai. (see Lamentations 3:26). The patient are better than the proud. (see Ecclesiastes 7:8). We are to rejoice in our hope and be patient in our troubles and continue steadfastly in prayer. (Romans 12:12). Everything written in the Tanakh was for our instruction and with its encouragement we are to patiently hold on to our hope. (see Romans 15:4). Love is patient and kind. (see 1 Corinthians 13:4). We are told to be patient until the Lord returns. (see James 5:7-8). We are urged to be patient with everyone. (see 1 Thessalonians 5:14). When we are patient, we glorify Adonai because we are reflecting His patience with us.
- Faithfulness is also a personal quality we attain by following Adonai. Faithfulness is also listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. (see Galatians 5:22). Adonai will give every person a reward suited to his uprightness and faithfulness. (see 1 Samuel 26:23). The day is soon coming when Adonai will betroth Israel to Himself forever – in righteousness, in justice, in grace, in compassion and in faithfulness. (see Hosea 2:21-22). The righteous will attain life through trusting faithfulness. (see Habakkuk 2:4). Adonai’s faithfulness lasts through all generations. (see Psalms 100:5). When the Messiah was executed on the stake as a criminal, we were too. He lives in us because our proud egos no longer live. The life we now live in our body we live by the same trusting faithfulness that the Son of God had, who loved us and gave Himself up for us. (see Galatians 2:20). Through trusting and being faithful we receive what was promised, namely, the Spirit. (see Galatians 3:14). The life that was promised is now given on the basis of Yeshua the Messiah’s trusting faithfulness, to those who continue to be trustingly faithful. (see Galatians 3:22). We are declared righteous on the ground of trusting and being faithful. (see Galatians 3:24). In union with the Messiah, we are all children of God through trusting faithfulness for we have clothed ourselves with the Messiah. (see Galatians 3:26-27). It is by the power of the Spirit who works in us, because we trust and are faithful, that we confidently expect our hope of attaining righteousness to be fulfilled. (see Galatians 5:5). What matters is trusting faithfulness expressing itself through love. (see Galatians 5:6). Our trusting faithfulness brings glory to Adonai as we reflect the trusting faithfulness of His unique Son, Yeshua.
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