The Fruit of the Spirit [Goodness]

Devotional — Freely you have received…

Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Matthew 19:16–22

“Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” These days we use the word good quite loosely; good food, good music, or even good weather. But this fruit of the Spirit is not merely referring to something that is acceptable to our preference but something that is acceptable to God’s standard!

You could say “God-ness” or to be like God. In this passage Jesus says to the rich young man to go and sell all that he had and to give it to the poor. Jesus identified the area of the mans life that was more important to him than following Jesus. Jesus’ example to us is to lay down everything. Jesus’ prayer was “Father, not my will but Yours”. To be like God is to go and give all we have away. Only in doing this can we follow Jesus. Jesus’ is calling you to take up your cross and follow Him.

As you go about your day today ask God to give you opportunity to give to others, perhaps even financially. To be like God is to give, the only way to be good is to be like God.

Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8b