We continue our reading of “A Woman’s Walk with God” by Elizabeth George. It is a study of the Fruit of the Spirit. Today we look at chapter eight – “Giving in Goodness.”
The fruit of the Spirit is…goodness. Galatians 5:22
The author, Elizabeth George, gives us three aspects of the biblical definition of spiritual goodness which relates to our conduct toward others.
1. True goodness is spiritual in its origin. The Bible reveals to us that God is good. Due to our sin and our flesh, we need Good’s grace and the Spirit’s power to exhibit His fruit of goodness, because any and all goodness – genuine goodness – must have God in the formula.“Goodness will do everything it can to shower God’s goodness upon others. Goodness follows through on those wonderful thoughts of kindness, thoughts which came when we were praying, caring, noticing, and planning to act. Goodness takes the step from good intentions to actively serving others.”
2. Goodness is active. His goodness in us then results in active benevolence, kindly activity on the behalf of others.
3. Goodness is a readiness to do good. Goodness is completely dedicated to helping others live well. Indeed, goodness is up on tip-toe, ready and waiting to do good.
“Goodness puts God’s love into actions, follows through on our plans for kindness, and gives – indeed, pours out! – God’s love to others."
We have been instructed to practice goodness. It is an assignment from God. “Good works does not save, but good works sooner or later accompany salvation.”
The author shares a scripture found in Galations 6:10: “Let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” We are told to do good to everyone, but especially to those at church, to those of the household of faith! Wow! The scripture says especially – meaning moreso! Unfortunately, I am sure that we all could share a story or two of how we did not receive good from those that we worshipped with, those that are of the household of faith. It would be so easy to take steps back, to not practice goodness. But God calls us to live a life of goodness. We have to lay aside our feelings of hurt, and turn it all over to the Lord.
“Doing good to everyone is a tall order, but the Lord delights in helping us fulfill it.”
Luke 6:27-28 tells us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us… “We are to love those who cause us pain through the personal response of doing good, the public response of blessing, and the private response of praying…. Thank God that He helps us fulfill this assignment by filling us with His goodness so that we have His goodness to give to others!
The author shares several opportunities we have to choose goodness:
1. As women we are to learn goodness.
2. As women we are to teach goodness.
3. As women we are to be devoted to goodness.
4. As women we are to adorn ourselves with goodness.
Several biblical examples of women who choose goodness:
1. Dorcas – Acts 9:36
2. The Shunammite woman – 2 Kings 4:8-10
3. Rebekah – Genesis 24:15-20
4. Lydia – Acts 16:15
Here is a thought provoking question the author asks at the end of chapter eight:
Why do you often not do what is good and beneficial to others?
I don’t know about you, but I have plenty of wonderful thoughts of kindness that never get acted on. Sometimes I forget. Sometimes too much time passes. In fact, I purchased a card over a week ago to send to a shut-in. I have cards in my purse that I need to address and mail. I need goodness to follow through on the thoughts of kindness!
Let's pray. Father, I thank You that You are a good God, that You show Your goodness to us! I ask that You help me and those reading this that our thoughts of kindness will be followed through by goodness. I ask that You help us in times when we have thoughts of kindness but don’t act on it, or we allow too much time to pass and so we don’t act on it. Father, may Your goodness shine out of us to those around us. Thank You Father. We love and appreciate You. We declare that there is none like You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Blessings,
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