Cheerfulness - Being full of good feelings; merry, or ppleasant.
"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart." Proverbs 15:30
"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22
"God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7
Job's cheerful looks brought joy. Job 29:24
Compassion - Deep awareness of
the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.
"Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another." Zechariah 7:9
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, a stranger showed compassion for another. Luke 10:30-37
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Consideration - Thoughtful concern for others.
"Be peaceable and considerate." Titus 3:2
The Israelites were instructed to be considerate of others' property. Deuteronomy 22:1-4
Joseph showed consideration for Mary by deciding not to divorce her quietly. Matthew 1:19
Courageousness
- Being bold or fearless in the face of thhreat."Be strong and courageous." Joshua 1:6
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13
Peter and John showed great courage when they spoke about Jesus before the Sanhedrin. Acts 4:1-21, especially verse 13
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, ... If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'" Daniel 3:16-19
"Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.'" Acts 4:19
Faithfulness - Adhering firmly
and devotedly, as to a person, a cause, or an idea or belief; loyal.
"Fight the good fight of the faith." 1 Timothy 6:12
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith." 1 Corinthians 16:13
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." Galatians 5:22
"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went." Hebrews 11:8
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, ... If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'" Daniel 3:16-19
"Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.'" Acts 4:19
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Forgiveness - Excusing for a fault or an offense; pardon.
"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you." Matthew 6:14
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
See also Matthew 18:21-22
Isaac's son, Joseph, forgave his brothers. Genesis 45:8-15
Stephen forgave, and asked God to forgive, the men who stoned him. Acts 7:59-60
Jesus forgave all me, as they nailed him to the cross. All the Gospels
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Gentleness - Mildness of manner or disposition; kind and tender.
Sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
"Let your gentleness be evident to all." Philippians 4:5
"Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12
Paul was gentle with the Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians 2:6-7
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Godliness - Holy living; Having great reverence for God; pious.
Reverence for God and a life of holiness in the world. - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
"Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No!' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." Titus 2:11-12
"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." 1 Peter 1:15
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Goodness - The quality of being good in any of its various senses; excellence; virtue; kindness; benevolence; such as, goodness of character, of disposition, of conduct, etc. (state of being good).
"Turn for evil and do good." Psalm 34:14
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." Galatians 5:22
"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:12
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Honest - Truthful; sincere.
"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ." Ephesians 4:15
"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully." Ephesians 4:25
Application:
The men supervising the rebuilding of the temple acted in complete honesty. 2
Kings 12:15
Hopeful - To look forward to with confidence or expectation.
To trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future. - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faith." Isaiah 40:31
"Now faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see." Hebrews 11:1
See also Romans 8:18-27; 1 Peter 3:15-16
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Humility - The state or quality
of being humble; freedom from pride and arrogance; lowliness of mind; a modest
estimate of one's own worth; a sense of one's own unworthiness through
imperfection and sinfulness; self-abasement; humbleness.
"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
"For whoever exalts himself will be humble, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:12
"Clothe yourselves with humility." 1 Peter 5:5
Daniel was very humble, giving honor where it belonged - to God. Daniel 2:30
Elizabeth was humble before Mary. Luke 1:43
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Joy - Gladness of heart.
"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness." Galatians 5:22
Mary's joy at the coming of birth of Jesus is expressed in song. Luke 1:46-55
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Kindness - The quality of being warm-hearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic.
An attribute of God and quality desirable but not consistently found in humans.
"Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12
"Be kind and compassionate to one another." Ephesians 4:32
David showed kindness to Mephibosheth for Jonathan's sake. 2 Samuel 9:1-7
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Love - Unselfish, benevolent concern for another. Also, to take delight or pleasure in; to have a strong liking or desire for, or interest in; to be pleased with; to like; as, to love books; to love adventures.
"Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:39
"Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Duet. 6:5, and Matthew 22:37-38
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Mercy - Disposition to exercise compassion or favor; pity; compassion; willingness to spare or to help.
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Obedience - Compliance with that which is required by authority; subjection to rightful restraint or control. Also, dutiful or submissive behavior [ant: disobedience] or the trait of being willing to obey.
"It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep in his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him." Duet. 13:4
"If you love me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." Ephesians 6:1
Noah obeyed God and built the ark. Geneis 6
Paul commended the Philippians for their obedience. Philippians 2:12-13
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Patience - The capacity to
endure hardship, difficulty, or inconvenience without complaint, emphasizing
calmness, self-control, and the willingness or ability to tolerate delay;
good-natured tolerance of delay.
"Be patient with one another in love." Ephesians 4:2
"Love is patient, love is kind." 1 Corinthians 13:4
David said, "I wait patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1
Peace - A state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose; specifically: (a) Exemption from, or cessation of, war with public enemies. (b) Public quiet, order, and contentment in obedience to law. (c) Exemption from, or subjection of, agitating passions; tranquility of mind or conscience. (d) Reconciliation; agreement after variance; harmony; concord.
"Great peace have they who love your law." Psalm 5:1
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1
"Seek peace and pursue it." 1 Peter 3:1
Christ breaks down the barrier between believing Jews and Gentiles. Ephesians 2:14
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Prayerful - Given to praying frequently; devout.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6
"Pray continually." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
See also Mark 11:22-25; James 5:13-16
Purity - (a) Cleanness; freedom from foulness or dirt. (b) Freedom from guilt or the defilement of sin; innocence; chastity; as, purity of heart or of life. (d) Freedom from any sinister or improper motives or views.
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word." Psalm 119:9
"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." 1 Thessalonians 4:8
See also Philippians 4:8
Paul gives advice on treating others with purity. 1 Timothy 5:1-2
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Self-control - Control of one's emotions, desires, or actions by one's own will.
"But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." 1 Thessalonians 5:8
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say, 'No!' to ungodliness and wordly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." Titus 2:11-12
Self-control is one of the requirements for an elder. Titus 1:8
Trust - (a) Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing. (b) Reliance on the intention and ability of a purchaser to pay in the future; credit.
"Do not let your herts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me [Jesus]." John 14:1
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:4-5
Abraham trusted God. James 2:23
Wisdom - The ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight.
"The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom." Proverbs 15:33
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." James 3:17
Solomon asked God for wisdom, and God said it was the best thing he could ask for. 1 Kings 3:4-15
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WWJD - A popular acronym (meaning "What Would Jesus Do!?") used by Christians to remind themselves and other Christians to be Christ-like in every area of their lives.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." Hebrews 12:3-3
"As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do." 1 Peter 1:14-15
Paul encouraged other to follow his example of following Christ. Philippians 4:8-9
All Scripture taken from the Holy Bible: New
International Version.
The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society.
Most definitions came from Dictionary.com.
Last updated: Wednesday, July 13, 2005
© 1997 Gregory Cook