EPISODE 143: GOODNESS (Be Fruitful, Part 2)

BE IN THE WORD (This Week’s Verses):

I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. (Romans 15:14)

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good. (Genesis 1:3-4)

You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. (Psalm 119:68)

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1)

The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. (Psalm 145:9)

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31)

How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. (Psalm 31:19)

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. (1 Timothy 4:4)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.(Matthew 19:16-17)

BE EDUCATED (Additional Resources):

  1. Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness from Life, Hope & Truth.
  2. God’s Goodness by All About God.
  3. What is Goodness? by Got Questions.

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS (Practical Application):

  1. This one comes from a website called Life, Hope & Truth and I loved it. Complete this Goodness self-examination questionnaire:
    1. Is the “good” I do based on God’s standards in His Bible, or society’s standards and standards I’ve created?
    2. How do my actions show God’s right way of life?
    3. How do my actions show God’s law?
    4. Would God call what I am about to do “good”?
      1. If yes, what evidence from the Bible shows it?
    5. Am I just? Am I fair? Am I obedient to God’s commandments? Am I generous in doing good to others?
  1. Before you’re about to jump into an act of goodness, pause first to consider: Does this “good deed” shine a light on me, or back on God? I think so often we do good things because we want to feel good, or feel recognized for the good we’re doing. If it’s an act of good that comes from the fruit of goodness, then it doesn’t matter if we get recognized for it or even if it doesn’t “feel” good. As long as it shines a light back to God and not on us, it’s coming from the right fruit. (The woman of the Bible I’m going to talk about next week is going to be an incredible example of this!)

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