The Holy Spirit’s seventh gift is faithfulness. Scripture frequently pairs it with Love, which makes sense to those of you reading this who have or have had strong marriages. The definitions Websters Dictionary gives faithfulness mix qualities that might be divided between God, and people.

The dictionary classifies its first definition, full of faith, as obsolete. Though I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s because fewer people exhibit it. The next four options can split in half, with the first words of each definition applying to God, and the rest the province of humans.
They look like this: 2. Steadfast in affection or allegiance, loyal. 3. Firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty: conscientious. 4. Given with strong assurance: Binding (promises). 5. True to the facts, a standard, or, an original (a faithful copy).

So?

Had God not had steadfast affection (Love) for the people he’d created, he wouldn’t have promised Someone would come to crush the serpent. He wouldn’t have set up a covenant with Abraham to bless all nations. Nor would he have told David a righteous King would occupy the throne of his kingdom forever.
That same love fulfilled the words of Proverbs 16:6 in the person of Christ. He is an exact representation of God the Father’s being. Sadly, many perversely claim there is no sin, and they have every right to all God’s blessings merely because they exist. However, the atonement He promised and planned is beyond our reach without faith, which is expressed in obedient allegiance.
Since we cannot produce faith for ourselves, the Father and Son, have sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s seventh gift is faithfulness, in that first, supposedly obsolete definition, which enables us to benefit from Jesus’ death and resurrection.

How are we to react to faithfulness?

We’re to proclaim what God’s faithfulness has done for us, speak of the connection between faithfulness and salvation, praise God’s faithfulness using our creativity, perhaps with music, like David did, and tell the children in our lives all the details.

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