Goodness - Fruit of the Spirit Study (Monday Morning Devotions)
goodness ἀγαθωσύνη (1-4)
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. [Ephesians 5:8–10 (NIV84)]
These words are found in the Apostle Paul's letter to those faithful in Christ and living in Ephesus - they include a key word, that key word is goodness.
Our key Bible verse is:
[T]he fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. [Galatians 5:22–25 (NIV84)]
You have probably heard of the phrase 'goody-two shoes.' You might have even been referred to being a little miss goody two shoes. Often times such children, such people, are scorned by those who are not so good. Christians often suffer for living upright lives.
The Apostle Paul writes: We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, . . . 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, [2 Thessalonians 1:1–11 (NKJV)]
God's goodness overflows through the life of the Christian. You are a blessing to others in spite of the persecution that comes with being a child of God, a child of light.
This has been Pastor Ricky Jacob of Jesus Our Savior Lutheran Church and preschool, of Winnebago. I close with the words of encouragement to the faithful brothers and sister in Christ of the Apostle Paul: I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. [Romans 15:14 (ESV)]