Goodness

This coming weekend I have the privilege of preaching at church. Over the past few months we have been journeyed and living in Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia, and more recently we have been dwelling in the fruit of the Spirit, and I am preaching on GOODNESS.

When I was originally given this fruit to speak on, I was a bit gutted because it seemed so general. But, as I have been exploring the word goodness I have found it hard to condense into a 40 minutes sermon.

We serve a good God, an altogether 100% good God! That’s an amazing thought in itself, and yet we have the ability to be good. We cannot be perfect, but we can be good! Goodness will be evidenced through a Spirit filled live. It will be the product of the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives!

We can DO good deeds, we can appear good, but to BE good is a result of living by the Spirit of God and it is contrast to the sinful nature. Being good is more than a one off action, it is a lifestyle! When Paul writes about the Fruit of the Spirit he contrasts to the acts of the sinful nature, this is particularly relevant to goodness as we often use the word in contrast to evil. Good vs. Evil!

As I sat eating my blackcurrant yoghurt today, it struck me how sinful, evil, bad our world is. (Nothing to do with blackcurrant yoghurts). As I was thinking about goodness, a thought that was not particularly wholesome came to me. It confirmed to me once more that I am a sinner, but with that realisation also came the fresh revelation that I am still loved by an altogether good God! How amazing is that!

Let strive to be Spirit filled people displaying goodness in our lives, which contrasts with the bad, evil, sinful world we live in.

Eph 5 vs. 8-10
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.