Welcome backs friends. Last week I started the Fruits of the Spirit series with you.
Galatians 5:22-23
New International Version (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
We talked about Kindness already. Today I want to talk about Goodness.
Definition of Goodness:
1. the state or quality of being good.
2. moral excellence; virtue.
3. kindly feeling; kindness; generosity.
4. excellence of quality: goodness of workmanship.
5. the best part of anything; essence; strength.
Kindness, Love and Goodness go hand in hand with each other. Loving is being kind. Being kind is being good. Allowing Goodness to live through you is a powerful fruit to bear. Living a good life can bring people in your life to God. He is the Vine, we are the branches. Our lives bear much fruit. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will
bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NIV
How many people do you think are watching us as Christians? If I stop and think about it...what I say and post on social media can lead to or push someone away from Christ. Just by my own personal actions. If I am not operating off Goodness, how good is my fruit? Pretty bitter.
The world tells us it is okay to do something if it feels good. Hey it must be good right, it feels good, nobody is getting hurt. For example...Pre-marital sex, partying, drinking, gossip and many other worldly activities that is sociably OK. Goodness comes from a place in our hearts. It comes from a focus on God and not a focus on what the world tells us is good. Goodness is a fruit of the spirit, because it takes effort to cultivate.
The world tells us it is okay to do something if it feels good. Hey it must be good right, it feels good, nobody is getting hurt. For example...Pre-marital sex, partying, drinking, gossip and many other worldly activities that is sociably OK. Goodness comes from a place in our hearts. It comes from a focus on God and not a focus on what the world tells us is good. Goodness is a fruit of the spirit, because it takes effort to cultivate.
Well why would we want to be good? Because God is good to us!
Psalms 145:9-13
9 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.10 All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.[b]
your faithful people extol you.11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might,
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.[b]
If we serve a Good God, we ought to be Good disciples. Be the branches he intends us to be.
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