“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
“Surely Your goodness and love follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).
house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).
What is “goodness”? Dictionary.com defines goodness as “moral excellence; virtue;
kindness; generosity; excellence of quality; “the best part of anything.” Goodness in us
is not simply created through our growth and experience. “Every good thing given, and
every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).
Jesus had a conversation with a rich young ruler in Luke 18:19. He said, “Why do
you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Jesus, being fully God was not
denying His own goodness, but rather, He was challenging the young man to consider
his own, hoping His question would change the ruler’s wayward heart.
You may wonder why the Bible refers to certain men as “good.” Our goodness is always
in relationship to righteousness obtained through salvation and a relationship with God.
An example of the fruit of goodness in a man who loved God is illustrated with Barnabas
in Acts 11:24, where it says, “for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.
And a great many people were added to the Lord.” As believers, His goodness is
inherent to us who love the Lord and are filled with His Spirit, as Barnabas was. We
desire to exhibit God’s goodness and the qualities that are pleasing to the Lord when
we let the Holy Spirit move through us. The light of God’s goodness will shine from us
on those around us. “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will
praise your Heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16).
Guiding Points:
Call to Action: There are many uplifting scriptures about God’s goodness to us and
how we are to extend His goodness to others. Pray over these and let them remind us
we are children of the King Who is always good!
“Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—
especially to those in the family of faith” (Galatians 6:10).
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those
who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
“The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made” (Psalm 145:9).
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid.
Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children
of the Most High, for He is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked” (Luke 6:35).
Prayer: We praise You for Your goodness to us as a faithful Father! Your name is lifted
high above all names! Thank you for filling us with your goodness by the Holy Spirit.
Help exhibit the fruit of Your goodness at work, school, or wherever we are this week—
speaking and doing things that reflect You. Lead us to help others who need to hear
about Jesus. Give us the words to speak to those with ears who will listen. Let us be
bold in our faith to tell others Your good news! We thank You, Lord, for all You’ve done
for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!
about Jesus. Give us the words to speak to those with ears who will listen. Let us be
bold in our faith to tell others Your good news! We thank You, Lord, for all You’ve done
for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!
Final Thought: We are all masterpieces in God. He gave us new life in Christ, so we
can do good things! (Ephesians 2:10)
Focus on the Fruits! GOODNESS
The Strongest Faith in the Deepest Pain
“For she said, ‘If I touch even His garments, I will be made well’” (Mark 5:28).
Walking Confidently in His Light
“For once, you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5:8).
On the Solid Rock, We Stand
“He alone is my Rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken” (Psalm 62:6).
Battling Anxiety: A Christian Perspective
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad” (Proverbs 12:25).
Let the Peace of Christ Rule
“Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one Body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).
Surrounded by The Father
“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
God Uses Imperfect People in Extraordinary Ways
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
Turning Your Mess into a Message
“Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me” (Psalm 66:16).
Encouragement and Prayer for New Graduates
Graduation is such an exciting moment! While it’s the end of a significant chapter, it’s the beginning of many new ones forward! Taking time to celebrate this milestone is important. While there may be some uncertainty about next steps, God’s Word provides direction for the road ahead. God cares about the details of every life and wants to lead each graduate to their purpose in Christ. When we seek His face and lean into Him, He promises to be with us in every step of the journey (Matthew 6:33).