{Be Confident} Good Things

Spiritual Growth

July 22, 2015

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But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Galatians 5:22-23

If you’ve been following the Delight blog and it’s monthly themes, you may have noticed a trend! We’ve been spending each month focusing on the different fruits of the Spirit described in Galatians.

The term “Fruit” doesn’t mean mangos, oranges, or bananas. Nope! Instead, it refers to the byproducts or benefits that come as a result from having the Holy Spirit within us.

In letting the Holy Spirit control us, we are blessed with the fruit of goodness. As others see our good works, they will praise our Father in heaven. This is different from our former living. Before we give our lives to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, WE are the ones whom seek praise for our good works. Our motivation to do goodness is for that praise.

But when Jesus takes over our hearts, he changes everything.

Suddenly, the Holy Spirit encourages us to step outside of ourselves and into something so much bigger than us. Through our pursuit to know Jesus more, more about us is revealed. We see the condition of our hearts. A vicious cycle ensues as we strive to die to self, and let Christ live within us. The more we allow for that to happen and obey what Christ asks of us, the more change occurs within us.

And the result?

Goodness.

Good things don’t happen to good people. I’m sure we each know of bad things that have happened to someone whom we consider good. I’m sure we all can also relate to having the desire to do the right thing… but most times falling short to actually do it.

“And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t.”

Romans 7:18

BUT, Good things DO flow from Godly people. Our motivation to do them doesn’t come from us, it comes from the Holy Spirit! He equips us with peace when we are stressed, joy when we are suffering, patience when we are overwhelmed and kindness when we want to do the opposite.

Goodness only flows from us because God is good.

I want you to think about why you do good things. Do you do them out of fear ? Do you do them to please others? Or do you do them because you know that Christ has called you to something so much more?