Dave spoke this morning on the goodness of God as he looked at goodness as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). Most of us like to think of ourselves as fundamentally good people, but God’s word reminds us that only God is good and that the fruit of the Spirit are grown within us as God’s Spirit dwells within us. A good God (Ps 119:68) made a good creation (Gen 1), but in our sinful nature, nothing good dwells (Rom 7) and we need God to grow goodness within us, so that it glows from within, rather like a glow worm’s luminescence glows all the time:
Jesus was baptised in water and anointed to do good things by the Holy Spirit. Goodness is more than undeserved generosity; it describe a disposition to do good (doing good because it’s in your nature.) The Holy Spirit changes our nature so that we reflect God’s nature.
The Bible gives us examples of those whose goodness is only seen on the surface and those whose goodness emanates from the changes God is bringing about from within. Ananias and Sapphira are examples of the former. They sold property and brought only some of the proceeds to the church; they did not give wholeheartedly and in effect lied to the church leaders and to God. God wants us to worship in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:24); there must be goodness coming forth from our inner beings.
Barnabas, on the other hand, demonstrates goodness in all he did: in his support of the poor, in his encouragement of individuals and in his prayer life (see Acts 19:24). He was generous to the church, generous in his encouragement to both Paul and later to John Mark at times when others were wary and doubtful of them and was not jealous or envious of the talents of the other leaders.
The Holy Spirit produces goodness in us for everyone to see; what is required from us is a willingness to let God’s character be manifested in us and in a humility of lifestyle that doesn’t care who gets the credit:
