Spiritual Fruit: Goodness

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! –Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

Paul’s letter to the Galatians identifies goodness as a fruit of the Spirit. Being good is one manifestation that the Lord is active, living, and working in our lives. In childhood, the words “be good,” meant obeying the household rules, the community laws, and the Ten Commandments. But, goodness goes beyond obedience. It is the quality of being consistently upright and pure, escaping “the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4 NIV). Goodness requires us to keep our eyes and our minds fixed on Jesus, abstaining from all appearances of evil. In Philippians 4:8 NIV, Paul encourages each of us to think on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. The Lord says in Jeremiah 6:16 NIV, “…ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” As we make a commitment to seek God’s guidance through prayer and the study of His Word, we not only discover the good way, but we tap into His strength in order to walk in it. And then one day, we will each hear the beautiful words, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 NIV).