by Commissioner Evie Diaz
Territorial Commander
Jesus told the rich young ruler, “Only God is good.” (Luke 18:19, CEV) If only God is good, how can we then be good and do good? Goodness starts, as with all fruit, by God’s Spirit working in us. Ephesians 5:8b-9 (NIV) says: “Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).”
As we walk in God’s light, the Holy Spirit will produce in us the fruit of goodness. Goodness that is defined by pure motives and consistently right living. Goodness that is sacrificial and acted out by faith. Goodness that can only be shown when the Spirit is active in our lives.
In the Great Lakes Division there is a man who came to The Salvation Army through the Harbor Light and is motivated by the goodness of God he has experienced. He is a soldier who helps others by using his construction skills and serves the church with those same skills. He has a desire to see others be sober and know God’s grace and goodness in their lives.
The corps leadership team in Manitowoc, Wis., shares God’s goodness by creating a family atmosphere among those who gather for worship and other corps activities. They are motivated by their love for God and His people.
Will you allow the Holy Spirit to produce goodness that looks like this:
Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. (quote often attributed to John Wesley)
Allow God’s goodness to flow out of you and “do good to all.” Galatians 6:10a (NKJV) You can do good by serving others, listening to those in distress, and sacrificially giving your time and resources. Do good not for yourself but out of pure motives, sharing God’s goodness with others.
We have this promise that when we allow Jesus to be Lord and the Holy Spirit to be present and at work in us: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6a (NIV)
Share how you are experiencing and expressing God’s goodness in your community.
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But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)