“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives… goodness” (Galatians 5:22, NLT).

Be Good

People gathered in droves around John the Baptist at the Jordan River. He baptized them and told them to live changed-heart lives. Tax collectors were to stop overcharging. Soldiers were to quit intimidating (Luke 3:12-14).

Then Jesus appeared, preaching the flip side of John’s message.

Jesus described goodness as more than how we don’t treat others. He taught His followers to provide food, clothing, and shelter to those in need. Acts of goodness are to be a continual by-product of one’s Christian faith.

Beyond Good Deeds

Every year, humanitarian organizations help millions of people. They promote the brotherhood and sisterhood of humankind. But one thing is missing: they don’t credit our Heavenly Father as their source.

Anyone living outside of God’s family can be kind. But as God’s children living under His authority, our goodness comes from Him.

On Mt. Sinai, God described Himself to Moses: “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6, NKJV).

God’s abundant goodness toward His creation includes His kindness, His mercy, His grace, and His forgiveness (without prejudice or pride). He constantly treats us in ways that are right and just.

If we serve such a God, then we His followers will bear the spiritual fruit of goodness in those ways.

A Life of Goodness

The Apostle Paul wrote to Titus about Jesus, “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14, NKJV).

The Holy Spirit plants the seed for goodness in our hearts. That’s why there are so many Christian organizations motivated to share God’s love with others. Consider the following examples:

• Christian goodness led to the founding of hospitals. That’s evident in central Iowa where we’ve named hospitals Iowa Lutheran, Iowa Methodist, and Mercy (a Catholic hospital).
• Compassion International, Feed the Children, and World Vision are Christian organizations that help children.
• Teen and Adult Challenge reaches those with life-controlling addictions.
• Prison Fellowship and other ministries help the incarcerated.
• Christians founded Habitat for Humanity to provide affordable housing.
• Hospice was established on Christian principles.

When we Christians water the seed the Holy Spirit plants in our hearts, we bear the spiritual fruit of goodness. Acts of kindness, mercy, grace, and forgiveness spring from a heart where God’s goodness resides.

The Road Ahead:

1. We’ll someday receive great rewards for goodness. We’re encouraged in Galatians 6:9 (NLT)— “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” The payoff is to one day stand before Jesus and hear Him say “‘Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your lord’” (Matthew 25:21, NKJV).
2. We can always trust God’s goodness. God’s perfect goodness prevents Him from making a wrong decision. According to pastor John Lindell, “When we pray: God hears more than we say, works in ways we can’t see, and does more than we imagine.” Whatever God does is always for our good. Keep trusting His goodness in your life.

Further Fuel: Psalm 16:2; Ecclesiastes 3:12; Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:14.