Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is ... goodness, ..."

Psalm 34:8 "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."

The believer can say with the psalmist:

Psalm 23:6 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: ..."

God is love, and goodness is love in action. Just as mercy is grace in action. Man is bad - Paul said:

Romans 7:18 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; ..."

It is our evil that has highlighted this characteristic of God; the Fall formed a background of evil comparison - that causes the goodness of God to brilliantly shine forth. What is goodness? For our definition we must turn to the Word.

Exodus 18:9 "And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians."

So goodness is more than a state of being good - it is being virtuous and kind - but more, goodness is benevolent, generous. Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel; and shows that goodness was undeserved deliverance from Egypt. God's goodness brought deliverance to grumbling slaves, who continued to grumble - at the Red Sea - and many times after that, but God went on delivering and providing for them. Had God been only just, they would have received their deserts and ended up back in Egypt. Goodness exceeds justice, duty, expectation. The fruit of God's Spirit is seen when we do more than what is just, more than duty, or what is expected of us. The more than what is right, or needed, or expected, is GOODNESS. Goodness is going the second mile.

John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

"The hireling flees" (John 10:13 NKJV), he will do his duty in caring for and providing for the sheep - but will not give his life. The Good Shepherd, Jesus, "giveth his life for the sheep." Let the beauty of His goodness be seen in us.

This fruit is a giving of more than we are expected to give. Goodness is practical and generous. Acts 2:42-47 records the New Testament Church goodness:

Acts 2:44 "And all that believed were together, and had all things common;"

Acts 4:32 "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common."

The goodness of Jesus in Spirit-filled believers makes continued fulfilment of 2 Corinthians 9:8 possible:

2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."

A picture of a generous Christian receiving from a generous Lord. The stingy Christian is always having to borrow - even his blessings.

Luke 6:35 "... do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; ..."

Goodness is giving, expecting nothing in return. Very different from the pressure appeals to give to get. Test the fruit of goodness with these questions:

	Is it possible, with His agape love, to have a genuine concern for someone who seeks your harm? (Luke 6:27-28 ).
	Do you limit your giving to those who are attractive to you, and from whom you can expect some reciprocation? (Luke 6:31-32 ).
	Do you practice the Golden Rule towards all people? (Luke 6:31 ).
	Are you, by practical goodness, showing yourself to be a child of God? (Luke 6:35-36 ).

The goodness of Jesus in His saints is more than duty rendered, it is unexpected goodness, given.

Goodness is:-

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A Life Of Separation And Conflict

"Be good" is used as a parting jest of the world. The indwelling Holy Spirit produces the reality of the beauty of Jesus' goodness in His people. Two benefits become apparent, namely, separation from an evil world, and conflict with evil. Consider this table David and Goliath illustrate and contrast good and evil (1 Samuel 17 ).

DAVID REPRESENTS GOOD IN ACTION	GOLIATH REPRESENTS EVIL IN ACTION
Good validates God's intentions	Evil violates God's intentions
Good visually small in appearance	Evil visible big in appearance
Good voices reliant faith	Evil vents idolatrous hate
Good ventures in simplicity	Evil vaunts excessive weaponry
Good's victory is beyond doubt	Evil's vanquishment is a certainty

With this table in mind answer the following questions:

	Does His goodness in you contend with every kind of evil that violates God's purposes?
	Can good remain inactive in the face of evil's aggression?
	Is it the common view that evil is a colossus of immense energy, while good is small and vulnerable?
	Would the world take the prophetic word "as a root out of dry ground" to mean strength and glory? (Isaiah 53:2 ).
	Would "dry ground" describe your condition from which springs forth the fruit of Christ's beautiful goodness that others gather?
	What would your disposition be like if you did not consciously yield to the Holy Spirit's control?
	Do you experience the release of the Spirit into active goodness?
	Do you find when your good is evil spoken of that the Holy Spirit sustains you? (Psalm 109:5 ).
	Can you name some of the many powerful weapons of destruction in the armoury of evil?
	What kind of weapons do God's people possess? (2 Corinthians 10:4 ).
	Why will goodness be ultimately victorious?
	Why is the Spirit's fruit a weapon of offence against the evil one?

The kingdom of the greater than David will be forever. Our living the life of the goodness of Jesus is now a weapon of offense against the enemy of our souls.

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A Life Of Shining Through Conduct

Being Christlike in life and conduct enables others to see Christ. True Christlikeness is diffusive. Men, by observation can see Jesus in the good life lived in the Spirit.

Acts 4:13 "... they (the Sanhedrin) marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."

A lighthouse becomes one when it diffuses light. Take away the light, and though it may have the name of being a lighthouse, it is not one - it has become a dark house of danger to sea travellers.

	Would you say goodness as light is personal integrity of character?
	Is goodness light because it manifests uprightness in the walk of life?
	Can the light of goodness be tolerant of evil and still shine?
	Is the light of goodness switched on by being honest in motives as well as in conduct?
	Is it possible for the light of goodness to be limited to shining among the family of God?
	Could the supply of the light of goodness fail?
	Can the light of goodness shine unless it is active goodness?

The goodness of Jesus in character and conduct, lived out in you will bring light to those who live in darkness.

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A Life Of Spiritual Quality And Goodness

Luke 10:41,42 "And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

To sit at His feet and adore Him in quiet meditation - to give the worship of heart's devotion is good and spiritual. Positive good because more than duty or service. It is the goodness of Jesus who delighted in communion with the Father; To Jesus it was meat and drink and refreshment. Worship causes the fruit of goodness to thrive. Consider the following reasons:

	Because you are preoccupied with the Lord you passionately desire to reveal his goodness to others.
	Because of looking at Him you yield to Him, and He touches you with His own goodness.
	Because the Lord is magnified you know nothing is impossible to Him.
	Because He is seen in His greatness the self limiting walls fall down.
	Because He is seen as the Son of righteousness your fears are eclipsed.
	Because He is allowed to invade the deep recesses of your being, you are illuminated with new perspectives of practical goodness.
	Because He has refreshed your spirit your practical goodness is a God-consciousness that brings a fresh awareness of God's presence to others.

How often the occupation of a busy life for the Lord is substituted for fruit of goodness in communion and worship. Choose that good part. This spiritual goodness equips to help those who have fallen.

Galatians 6:1,9-10 "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

How profitable is the good, of time spent in fellowship and worship at the Master's feet!

Acts 11:24 "For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith ..."

Acts 11:23 "Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, ..."

The fruit of goodness is revealed in what we see - Barnabas being a "good" man through the fulness of the Spirit - saw grace. There could have been immaturity, much lacking in those young Christians - but no, he saw grace. Our own character is revealed in what we see. May it rather be a revelation of the goodness of Jesus.

By the following questions, test how the fruit of the Spirit goodness affects your seeing.

	Do you, like Jesus, see faith in what others do? (Mark 2:5 ).
	Do you, like Jesus, love another even when you know they are lacking? (Mark 10:21-22 ).
	Do you, like Jesus, see the shepherd less multitude with compassion? (Mark 6:34 ).
	Do you, like Jesus, look on a failing disciple with a love that corrects? ( Luke 22:61-62 ).
	Do you, like Jesus, when your own need demands attention, see and prioritise the need of a loved one? (John 19:26 ).

Dr J. Hamilton said:- "Goodness is love in action; love with its hand at the plough; love with the burden on its back. It is love carrying medicine to the sick, and food to the famished. It is love reading the Bible to the blind, and explaining the gospel to the felon in his cell. It is love at the Sunday class ... it is love at the hovel door, or sailing away in the missionary ship. But whatever the task it undertakes, it is still the same, love following HIS FOOTSTEPS. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, "who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38 KJV).

The much more ministry of the goodness of Jesus included healing and deliverance. Fruit and gifts are intimately linked - the fruit of goodness finds expression in the gifts of healing and faith. Being good involves doing good. The Spirit-filled will seek to obey the Word. We are told to:

	"prove what is that good" (Romans 12:2 ).
	"cleave to that which is good" (Romans 12:9 ).
	"overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21 ).
	"follow that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:15 ).

Far be it from us that we hide His goodness, rather let the beauty of Jesus be seen.