Goodness

Goodness is one of the those words in the English language that has been devalued. Goodness seems to be relegated to describing something that is mildly acceptable, inoffensive or nice – maybe one level above OK. How are you today? “I’m good, thanks” we say. How was your holiday? “Weather was good.” What do you think of Harry? “Well, he’s a good bloke.”

But in the Word of God, goodness is not just OK – the greek word used by Paul conveys something much stronger – it’s about integrity, honesty and compassion. It’s not about just being nice but about actively living for what’s right and true and Godly. Goodness is doing the right thing even when it does not feel like we should.

As soon as we start reading the Bible, goodness hits us right between the eyes. As the creation story unfolds in Genesis, we read the repeated phrase “And God saw that it was good.”

God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good…

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.”… And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation…
“Let there be lights in the sky…
“Let the water teem with living creatures…
“Let the land produce living creatures…
And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image…male and female he created them.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. But God’s good creation has been spoilt by sin.

And as we read on, we learn how God’s good creation became marred by sin entering the world and so begins the story of God’s plan to rescue the world and all he had made.

• God is good: all goodness comes from him, his goodness is revealed in creation and revealed in his word to us.
• We can’t earn a place in heaven by doing good – God’s supernatural goodness comes from following Jesus
• Goodness is displayed in serving others – goodness is shown through action: treating others in honesty, truthfulness and justice.
• Jesus says we should thirst for righteousness – kingdom people have a driving instinct to live for what’s good and right.
• How do we grow this fruit in our lives? How do we nurture a character of goodness? We suggest to you that, with the Holy Spirit’s strength in us, goodness can become a habit.