The Fruit of the Spirit is.... Goodness

Yellow Ladyslippers

Goodness is part of the fruit that the Holy Spirit will produce in our life (if we let Him). This makes sense as we know that God is good. Nahum 1:7 says " The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him."  Psalms 31:19 says "How great is Your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear You, which you have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men!"  I think us seeing the goodness of God helps us to know how to be good ourselves (which to me even includes all the beautiful flowers that He gives for me to enjoy - all the photos in the post were ones I took in the past week around my house - I am so thankful!).

  What does "Goodness" mean? The Greek word for goodness "Agathosune" means "An uprightness of heart and life". Another definition I found was this: "in man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good."

Comfrey

 Goodness is also often related to the idea of doing good - being kind, helping others, showing love with actions.

Columbine or "Honeysuckle"

Ephesians 5:6-10 says "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord."

If we are walking as children of light we are going to have goodness, righteousness and truth as things that are displayed in our life.

Violas

"To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 1:11 &12

Forget-me-not

"Love must be sincere, hate what is evil; cling to what is good." Romans 12:9  It makes sense that if we are going to have goodness in our life we will do some hating of evil and turning to Good (and clinging to it) instead. How can we do that a little more today?

Geranium

2 Peter 1:5-7 " For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." 

With all the different gifts of the Spirit that are character traits it seems there is also some effort and diligence needed on our part to truly grow in them. So make every effort!

Viola

" To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 1:11 & 12

Why do we want to have goodness in us? So that Jesus will be glorified in us (and then us in Him). May it be!!!

Hosta

So let us pray for the Holy Spirit to truly fill us with goodness. Let us make every effort to have it in our lives. Let's be steadfast and faithful to make decisions that line up with God's will found in his word. 

Iris

May God bless you as you seek Him!