Galatians 5:22-24 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
I want you to be aware that the fruit of the spirit is not just action based but it is primarily heart based. You may act right but its your heart and motives that first count before God. God looks at the heart before he rewards the action. It is not how much good works but how much of good heart that facilitated the works. Your motives determine if your works line up with the fruit of the Spirit or mere eye service. This week, we continue our journey into the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Goodness
Acts 10: 38 – How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Proverbs 11:25 – The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Ephesians 5:9 – For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth….
Titus 3:14 – And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
The word goodness is the Greek word agathusune, which comes form the word agthos, meaning good. But when agathos becomes the word agathusune, it means goodness in the sense of being good to someone. The word is used to portray a person who is generous, big hearted, liberal and charitable. The fruit of goodness is the supernatural urge in a person to reach beyond him/herself to meet the natural needs of those around him. When we walk in the Spirit our eyes are supernaturally opened to see the needs of humanity and our hearts are moved to meet those needs.
In the above scripture in Acts the words ‘doing good’ implies that Jesus did not only heal the sick and do supernatural works but also met people’s needs in the natural realm. Jesus cared for the poor, he helped the needy and he utilized the resources made available to him to meet basic human needs.
We should not only be ready to meet the spiritual needs of people but also their physical needs. Do you know that the church is known in legal terms as a charitable organisation and as the people who make up the church therefore we should be charitable. The fruit of goodness makes a person to be selfless and go beyond himself/herself to meet both physical and spiritual needs of people in a practical way.
For further Study
2 Corinthians 10:1, 1 Corinthians 9:20-22
Personal declaration for the day
I am enabled by the Holy Spirit to be selfless and sacrificial.
Questions for you to reflect on
Carry remember a selfless act you did?
Who have you made sacrifice for?
Comments & Testimonials