Goodness. Well, this fruit thing just keeps getting harder, doesn’t it?

Paul didn’t say, “Doing good.” We could probably handle that one on our own, but, as I’ve said before, even those who don’t know the Lord are capable of doing good things or good works, good deeds or having good purpose or even a good reputation.  In fact, they often bank on their good deeds for salvation. No, Paul didn’t say “good works,” he said “goodness.”

Goodness is inside. It causes us to do good things, even sacrificial things, but it stems from the goodness within. Most of the time when the Bible speaks of goodness, it is identified with God’s goodness. Of course we are striving to be more and more like our creator. Goodness, then, hints of  rightness, righteousness, holiness.

Whoa! Goodness is one thing, but to suggest we be holy does not set well in today’s society.

One year I was in a Bible Study about Moses. At one point, the leader suggested we begin praying for holiness. Immediately, negative slogans shot up in front of me—

Miss Goody Two-Shoes

Being put on a pedestal

Holier than Thou

Obviously, we do not want to flaunt an attitude of holiness. The goal is a heart of humility.

How then do we pray for, even yearn for, a heart of goodness, a spirit of holiness? It almost smacks of blasphemy, as if we are trying to be God. Yet Jesus tells us:

Be perfect, [righteous, whole, completed] as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt. 5:48

God said to the Israelites, “I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; be holy, as I am holy.” Lev. 11:45

How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19

Have I taken refuge in Him? Do I fear and revere Him? If so, He has stored up His great goodness for me. Read the verse again. Tall order.

We are not told to be God, but to grow in goodness and holiness like God, to receive the goodness He has stored up for us.

One more thought—when God created the heavens and the earth, He looked at his day’s work and said it was “good.” It was pleasing to Him. 

As we have His Spirit of goodness growing within us, we will certainly show deeds of kindness to others. At the same time, we will relate with a pleasing spirit—not just to casual acquaintances, but to our young active children, our testy teenagers, our spouses, a cantankerous sibling, or to an aging parent.

Will you begin to pray for a heart of goodness (even holiness) and a spirit that pleases Him in these next few weeks? Imagine the powerful year He will give you.

~ Joyce ~