“Goodness comes from God to do good for God.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 13, 2024
The fruit of the Spirit is goodness… Galatians 5:22
The Holy Spirit’s fruit of goodness flows from God’s heart. It is pure in its essence and sure in its application for good. Good is to God what bad is to evil—a reflection of its origin. Goodness is the expression of moral excellence found in any man or woman surrendered to the Spirit’s control. It is virtue that bubbles up from a deep-seated belief that outside of Christ, there is no good thing. His goodness reveals His glory to the world.
To say he or she is a good man or woman does not do justice to the depth of the fruit of goodness. It puts too much emphasis on the human element in being good. Goodness comes from God to do good for God. We are only good to the extent that our goodness is initiated by Christ and sustained by the Spirit. At salvation God’s goodness floods our soul like a warm bath cleanses a dirty body—our soiled soul is washed clean. Goodness takes up permanent residence when the Lord Jesus is the landlord of our life. He’s all good!
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).
So, what does it mean to have a good heart? It is a heart governed by God. A good heart is more than following a set of principles—additionally it recognizes the Lord is the moral authority over what is defined as good. For example, we can feel good about someone, but if their morals or ethics violate Christ’s code of conduct, theirs is not a good life to emulate. Goodness is not defined by what we feel but by what God says is good.
God has made you good in Christ to be a humble but bold standard-bearer of goodness. Good and decent followers of Jesus have a moral obligation to obey God and thus be a force for good in a morally decaying culture. Goodness defines you as more than a do gooder—it marks you as being a slave to your Master Jesus. Your goodness gives you the influence to change the culture. God is calling you to be an agent of change for His glory!
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
Prayer
Lord, instill in me the fruit of goodness, that I may reflect your righteousness. Help me to live a life of integrity and virtue, always seeking to do what is right in your sight. May your goodness shine through me, drawing others to your light and truth. Amen.
Application
What does it look like to love the Lord for His generous goodness?
Related Reading
Exodus 33:19; Psalm 23:6; Romans 15:14; Hebrews 6:5
Worship Resource
Madison Watkins: Goodness of God
Donate
If you are blessed by these daily devotionals please prayerfully consider a donation to support Wisdom Hunters Resources. We are trusting the Lord for His provision.
Download our app!
