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What is goodness? One of the evidences of the fruit of God’s Spirit in the life of a believer is goodness. And we’re looking at practical ways to grow more spiritual fruit in our lives.
#6 – Goodness
We often say “God is good all the time,” but what do we mean by that? Do we mean that God does what I want him to do and answers all my prayers the way I want them answered? Do we mean that God pours blessings on us and therefore he is good?
Good means virtuous, righteous, morally excellent. And of course, God is good all the time. As you focus on being good, that doesn’t mean that you’re going to try to make everyone happy or jump through everyone’s hoops. It means, rather, that you are going to focus on being virtuous, righteous and morally excellent.
Second Peter 1:5 says: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge.” You may need to dig deep into your heart to root out those things that are not good. It might mean you have to change your television viewing habits, throw away some magazines or novels, stop bad habits of gossiping or complaining, make sure you’re always telling the truth.
#7 – Faithfulness
First Corinthians 4:2 says: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” We can only be of service to God if we are faithful people. You’ve heard it said that the best ability is dependability. That’s another word for faithful. Do you have a reputation for being dependable? Are you known as a faithful person, thorough in the performance of your duties? Do you always keep your promises? Is your word your bond?
A good motto to remember is “Under promise and over deliver.” Promise thoughtfully and sparingly, and then keep your promises no matter what! Grow that fruit of faithfulness until it is really big!