The Fruit of Goodness

How many times have you heard said at a funeral, 'He or she was a good person!' But we do we mean by 'good'? 'Good' is a generic description that can be applied to many situations and things in life. When applied to people, it may mean that one was morally good. Or one was good when it came to the responsibilities of life. Or one was good in that they cared for others. One of the fruits of the Spirit is 'goodness'. It has to do with moral and spiritual excellence combined with sweetness and active kindness. As in all of the fruits of the Spirit, God the Father and Jesus Christ provide the model for us to follow. Our God is GOOD, not just morally good or holy, and not just responsibly good in that He keeps His promises, but God is good in that He cares for ALL of His creation! And Jesus Christ portrays Himself as the 'Good Shepherd' who gives His life for His sheep. But we've also bee called to "goodness', to moral and spiritual excellence combined with sweetness and active kindness. And we are to excel in two areas. First, in our walk of faith we are to live above the world's standards and seek to develop genuine godliness. And secondly, in our labor of love, the circle of our acts of kindness is to widen, to go beyond our little group and reach into the world. We are to increase more and more in love for one another. As we combine both the genuine godliness with sweet acts of kindness, we will be exhibiting the fruit of goodness for all to see,