GOODNESS

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light
(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,
righteousness and truth)
and find out what pleases the Lord.”
Ephesians 5:8-10

Goodness has implications of some degree of excellence - the inner qualities of virtue, excellence of character, morality and attitude. This sixth attribute in the “Fruit of the Spirit” is inseparable from godliness and can only flow out of a life right with God and yielded to Him. It can refer to the act or the motivation behind the act. It can at the same time be kind and strong, but always under every circumstance, beneficial and for the well-being of the recipient. It does not spare sharpness and rebuke to produce good in others. Goodness involves going beyond the mere requirements to give what is needed and what will benefit, build up, and bless others.

Ephesians gives specific ways goodness is to be expressed:

• speaking truthfully· doing something “useful" 
• build up one another with our conversation 
• be kind, compassionate, forgiving, imitators of God 
• living lives of love
• seek to please the Lord
• be filled with the Spirit
• blessing others
• submitting to one another
• gently and humbly minister to others who are stumbling
• carry each other’s burdens
• care enough to get involved with one another

Additional verses for this week:

Luke 6:26-27
Romans 2:7-10
Galatians 6:9-10
1 Peter 3:8-11
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

                                     Joyce