Cloak and Dagger: For Goodness' Sake

by Miss Amanda

"Just be good for goodness' sake!" What is being good? Is it doing what you're told? Is it doing what's right? Is it going against the crowd? I believe its all those things, but I also know it's a fruit of having the Holy Spirit in your life.

Galatians 5:21-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

So goodness... it's a fruit of the Spirit, but what is it to "be good"? The definition of the word is:

GOOD'NESS, n. The state of being good; the physical qualities which constitute value, excellence or perfection; as the goodness of timber; the goodness of a soil.
1. The moral qualities which constitute christian excellence; moral virtue; religion.
2. Kindness; benevolence; benignity of heart; but more generally, acts of kindness; charity; humanity exercised. I shall remember his goodness to me with gratitude.
3. Kindness; benevolence of nature; mercy.
4. Kindness; favor shown; acts of benevolence, compassion or mercy.

To have goodness is to be kind; it shows excellence of character; it is a physical quality. Being a physical quality means that goodness is something you do. Goodness is an act. The best example of goodness we have is the Lord. David understood the meaning and splendor of God's goodness.

Psalm 107:8
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

We should praise the Lord for all the goodness He gives to us when we don't deserve it. When we follow the Lord and fear Him, His goodness to us is such a blessing:

Psalm 31:19
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!

I want to have the Fruit of goodness in my life. I want to be good and do what is right. I want to have kindness, and mercy, and compassion which are the qualities of goodness in my life so that others may see God through me.
When you are planting flowers, you don't just pick a place to plant, right? You choose a place that has good soil so that your flower will grow and bloom. It is the same way in your spiritual life. When you plant a seed in the goodness of your spirit it will grow and bloom to its fullest. When you have goodness of character, and you live out the qualities of goodness, God will be able to plant a seed in you that will help you grow to who He wants you to be!
So let's be good for goodness' sake this coming year!
Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit,

Miss Amanda, GGM Columnist, Assistant Editor, Print Magazine Editor and News Correspondent, is an 19yo homeschool college student, and oldest of 8 children. She is chief errand runner, grocery menu maker and shopper, laundry queen, and organizational gal. She enjoys secretary work, site designing, movies, and blogging. She will remain home until the Lord brings her Man of Steel. Find out more at The Daily Planet