November 14, 2019 (Thursday)
The virtues produced by the Holy Spirit who lives within us are characterized by Paul as “fruit.” Paul lists nine kinds of fruit and yesterday I wrote about one of them: “Kindness.” Next on the list is “Goodness.” Those two words are almost synonymous, but the difference seems to be that “kindness” refers to our actions and “goodness” refers to our disposition. An example could be helping an elderly lady to cross a street; the deed is “kindness” which is a choice of a person who is “good.” It is a kind deed by a good person.
Are you a good person? When you accepted Christ as Savior, you became a new person; your new nature came into being. Peter called upon us to “grow in grace and knowledge of Christ,” indicating that the good person you now are can get better. There is no doubt you will help the elderly lady across the street, but as goodness gradually grows greater within, you will help her not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because you want to help. It is your nature now that you have become a new creation in Christ. As you grow in grace and knowledge, people will see the change for good in you and refer to you as a good person. Goodness will become part of who you are.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:16-26 NIV).