Word of the Week - Goodness
“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.” ~ 1 Peter 1:5-7
What is Goodness – The root meaning of Goodness in the bible is uprightness of heart and life. The spiritual fruit of Goodness enables us as sinful people to do good and to be good – good in the truest sense of the word. Goodness is really rightness, which is rooted in righteousness. Goodness, after all, is the essence of God’s nature as opposed to man’s nature, which is selfish and sinful. Yes, contrary to today’s popular belief, we are born from sin and into sin and thus we come out of the womb sinful and selfish. All you have to do is observe any young child and how they act when they don’t get what they want. Yes, according to God’s Word, badness comes naturally and Goodness does not, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:7 This is truth.
But God has an amazing plan to radically transform our character!! Though our natural inclination is to defy God in sin, He has determined and purposed through his love and grace to help us overcome that nature to live a life of righteousness and Goodness, which is possible only through a personal relationship with Jesus. We are made righteous in Christ Jesus! He is our righteousness. As the apostle John explained, “He who does good as of way of life is of God, but he who does evil as a way of life does not know God. “By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” Matthew 7:16-17. Since we live in a fallen world we are in a daily battle against the principalities of darkness and must stay connected to the vine of Christ to overcome and remain good to bear Good fruit.
God’s Goodness is a blessing to us and those around us - As followers of Christ we must seek the be transformed into the likeness of Christ so that we can possess godly Goodness and the character of Christ so that good fruit is produced in our lives simply as a byproduct of our love and relationship with Christ. As a people and a nation we must understand that the blessing on America and her Goodness is rooted from our forefathers understanding of this truth, which led them to found our republic on a Judeo Christian foundation. One of the most famous quotes about the blessings of America was by a French author Alexis de Tocqueville who spent years studying the success of young America and published Democracy in America in 1838. He concluded that “America is great because America is good”. Referring to the Goodness that comes from our Judeo Christian heritage so clearly stated on our currency “In God we Trust”. It is our responsibility as “we the people” to do our very best to protect this amazing and godly heritage of our country, which is definitely at risk in this generation. It is the Goodness of God that produces the Goodness of “we the people” who as a whole are the United States of America.
If we remove God, we remove His Goodness and blessing over our nation – “There is a way seems right to a man, but in the end leads to death.” Proverbs 16:25 It seems that our country is on this path and headed towards a place of destruction as we try to remove God and religion from our identity as a nation. There are many case studies throughout history that have proved this to be a perilous pursuit. No matter your political preference, if you are a follower of God and desire to have the blessing and Goodness of God as described above, we must stand firm in keeping our “Nation under God” and vote for leaders who hold firm to our God-fearing heritage. This 90 second video produced by a Harvard Business School faculty member really drives home this reality and is something we should all watch and reflect upon https://www.youtube.com/embed/YjntXYDPw44 .
So, let’s resolve to pursue the Goodness of God through our pursuit of the Lord Jesus so that “we are not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21 “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, but especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is Good; blesses is the person who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8
Have a blessed and Good week in Christ,
Duane