Goodness PT. 2
Micah 6:8, Proverbs 3:4, Lamentations 3:25, Luke 6:27, 2 Timothy 1:14
We have read that God is good, not that he does good, but by nature is good. His goodness is displayed over and over again throughout the bible - pursuing, saving, redeeming, and providing for people who continue to live disloyally toward him. How do we produce the fruit of goodness when the truth is we are not good?
Through God’s Spirit. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, and with that, we are able to produce fruit of goodness. And even better, God tells us exactly how to produce it through the studying of his word. We are to do justice, love kindness, walk humbly (Micah 6:8), to hold fast to the Word of God, keep his commandments (Proverbs 3:4), wait for the Lord (Lamentations 3:25), love your enemies and pray for those who hate you (Luke 6:27). This is what the fruit of goodness looks like. It looks counter-cultural and like acting out against what you may be feeling. It looks like stepping forward in love and forgiveness. Goodness looks like total surrender to the Spirit and his leadership in your life.
Let’s be clear - goodness doesn’t naturally come to us. It doesn’t come with good work. Scripture is clear that it comes from knowing, communing, and holding fast to God’s word. It comes from abiding in Christ and being in tune with the Spirit. The words of Jesus says, “Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine and you are the branches. whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:1-5).
Apart from Him we bear no fruit. We can do nothing. Bearing fruit of goodness comes from intimacy with our Father in heaven, deep and daily communion with His Spirit that dwells in us and constant mediation on his Word. Then from there we know that “he has told you O man what is good” to love our enemies, do justice, love kindness and to pray for those who hate us. Goodness only can come from the One who is good. When we know him, abide him, cling to him, we can there bear the fruit of goodness.
