My Wednesday night Bible Study is currently focused on the fruits of the Spirit. This Wednesday’s topic was goodness. So my question to you is- what IS goodness? Well, your friend and mine, dictionary.com, says this, “noun: 1. the state or quality of being good. (That is a COMPLETE copout! Using a form of the word in the definition of the word! Please! How outre’!) 2. moral excellence; virtue. (OK- getting better!) 3. kindly feeling; kindness; generosity. 4. excellence of quality. 5. the best part of anything; essence; strength. 6. a euphemism for God: thank goodness!”
So what out of that definition is the most helpful to us? Well, “moral excellence” is a little tough. It is certainly something to strive for, but it is NOT something that we’re actually going to achieve this side of Heaven. “Excellence of quality” is also a bit of a challenge. Again, a good thing to shoot for but it sets the bar way higher than we are going to be able to actually jump. I like the “a euphemism for God” one a lot! But it probably doesn’t really inform this conversation terribly much.
So after weeding all of those out, that leaves “kindly feeling; kindness; generosity” and “the best part of anything; essence; strength.” And for my money, it is that portion of the definition that has the most to offer us as we consider “goodness”. Why? Because goodness, at its core, is a feeling of kindness and generosity. It also centers around the best part of something- its essence.
What is the best part…of you? Seriously- what is it that is your essence? If you boil it ALL down, what’s left of you? Is it kindness and generosity? If you’re honest…and like me…then your answer is, “It depends on the day…or time of day.” And that’s it, isn’t it? There are days, or times of day, when we have goodness oozing out of every pore. And then there are days, or times of day, where people couldn’t find goodness in you with a cattle prod! (I don’t really even know what that means..but you GET the idea!”)
So, if we can’t maintain goodness all the time, shouldn’t we just cash it all in and quit trying? Not on your Nellie! We are humans- fearfully and wonderfully made. We are far from perfect…FAR! But God loves us. And He wants the best for us. AND…He has amazing patience. So He doesn’t measure our progress with a stopwatch but with a calendar. He KNOWS that we are going to take two steps forward followed almost immediately by one step back. And He’s willing to wait. He’s willing to encourage. He’s willing to be our number one Cheerleader.
So how are you doing on the whole goodness thing? Are you making progress? Do you want to make MORE progress? Then stick with it. Stay the course. Try to take one step…one step…closer to goodness, closer to God, every day.
Thanks for stopping by- I pray you have a blessed day! Please make sure and come back again tomorrow and stick with Jesus!
Tomorrow- These Kids Today!
Stick With Jesus 