Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
"My goodness!"
I know you've each probably used this expression as many times as I have.
What do we really mean by saying these words? Think about it ladies, do
we really have any goodness within ourselves?? If anybody had a right
to legitimately use that expression, it would be Jesus Christ, amen? But
in Matthew 19:16-17, look how Jesus responds to the rich young ruler in
regard to this very matter of His own goodness:
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing
shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest
thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God...
Jesus Himself said that good is God, and God only is good! Here we are
given the proper perspective on good, the Biblical definition. Apart from
God dwelling within us, we have no goodness, for it is a fruit of the
Spirit given at salvation, and the one I will be considering today…
This young ruler thought that there was a "good thing" that he could perform,
thereby attaining eternal life through this goodness of his. But the Bible
says in Romans 3:12 that "there is none that doeth good, no not one".
Romans 7:18 says, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth
no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that
which is good I find not." The fact is, you and I are not capable of producing
goodness on our own! I wonder what the Lord thinks when He hears us use
"My goodness!" as an expression? I often ponder its origination. It would
be most interesting to find out who said it first, amen? Perhaps it is
the exact phrase this young ruler muttered while shaking his head and
walking sorrowfully away from Jesus challenge to go and sell all that
he had and come follow Him... (Mt.19:21) What was this young ruler refusing
by walking away from Christ? He was refusing the goodness of God and choosing
his own instead!! Where there is no fear of the Lord, there is no goodness
to be found...
Psalm 34:8 (KJV)
O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth
in him.
Ladies, this is what the Lord Jesus would have hoped the young ruler would
do - both taste of and trust in God's goodness, for when we taste of the
Lord's goodness, our own holds no flavor anymore, it is naught but a bad
taste in our mouth! I hope that each of you reading this devotion have
personally tasted of the Lord's goodness through salvation…
Psalm 31:19 (KJV)
Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear
thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons
of men!
Our own goodness is what would contribute to sending us to hell if we
were not saved by the goodness of God! Mankind's goodness deceives us
and blinds us from seeing ourselves as we really are. The Bible says all
our righteousnesses are as filthy rags! They keep us from knowing that
God ONLY is good... Many people in hell struggled with the very definition
of the word "good" during their lifetime. Ladies, we cannot become righteous
simply by being good, for man's goodness is still infected with sin of
which we should repent…
Romans 2:4 (KJV)
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;
not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentence?
Psalm 25:8 (KJV)
Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
Yes, God's goodness leads us to repent, to turn from self-righteousness
to follow Him. It teaches us of God's great love for us in that He would
be good enough to die for us to give us eternal life. God's goodness is
love in action! What kind of a teacher is your goodness today as a child
of God? Is it the kind of goodness that teaches sinners to turn from self
and leads them to the cross? You say you are a Christian... Does action
follow the goodness within your heart today? For what reason would you
think God then gave us this fruit of goodness upon salvation?
Turn with me to Psalm 107 for a moment. This is a wonderful picture of
God's goodness in our lives and what it brings about. I hope that you
will take the time to read the whole Psalm, for there is a pattern within
it from which we can learn…
Psalm 107:1 (KJV)
O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.
Stop right here and consider this: Has the goodness of God in your life
produced a thankful attitude in you? Are folks drawn to personally taste
of the goodness of God because it is so evident in your life? Psalm 34:8
says, "taste and see". What are lost people and/or other Christians SEEING
in your life? Of what is your life challenging them to taste?? Unfortunately,
many believers are an unthankful people and the world has lost its desire
to taste of God because we are poor ambassadors of our Lord!
Psalm 107:2a (KJV)
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…
What kinds of things are you found talking about most, dear lady? People
and problems or the goodness of God?! Folks don't find God as good anymore
because Christians aren't saying so! Ladies, God offered to trade His
righteousness for our sin - something of immeasurable worth for something
completely worthless... How grateful we should be for His kindness to
us! Instead, we are found pouting, whining and rebelling against His hand
in our lives - anything but trusting and praising Him! Who in their right
mind wants to taste of what we have been complaining about? Who wants
to sample the way we have been living our lives? By your testimony, I
hope that the goodness of God is most evident, rather than sin and poor
choices, leaving others with a bad taste in their mouth about Christianity.
God's goodness is the best thing anyone could ever taste! How have you
been properly presenting this fruit of the Spirit?
Psalm 107:8 & 9 (KJV)
Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and for his wonderful
works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and
filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Sounds like we are not doing our job, for this is the main theme of Psalm
107, mentioned four different times throughout the text. Believers should
be found praising God more for His goodness in our lives than we do. Of
how many distresses in your life has the Lord saved you? How about hell
for starters! When was the last time you shared with someone how good
God has been to you? Ladies, this world is full of longing and hungry
souls that are starving for news of God’s goodness! Undernourished individuals
need a diet that will sustain them… Will you feed folks a steady portion
of God’s goodness or strive to market your own? The more of His goodness
we notice, the more obvious our own sin becomes and the more we are motivated
to forsake it… Tell me dear lady, how many repentant people have you seen
lately, particularly in the house of God?? Yes, even our brothers and
sisters in Christ must be reminded of God's goodness and increase their
trust in the Lord. Next time you catch yourself declaring "MY goodness!”
why not change it to “Praise God for HIS goodness!”
Proverbs 20:6 (KJV)
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man
who can find?
But the fruit... Is there any in your life?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60: 1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
