Genesis 1:24-27,31; Micah 6:6-8
The fruit of God’s Spirit is goodness (Gal 5:22). That means -- when the Spirit of God produces his fruit in your life, you will be “good”!
But, let’s stop a moment to meditate on this. The Apostle Paul, who wrote about the fruit of the Spirit, was a Jewish Rabbi and all the rabbis were agreed that there is no one and nothing fully good in this world – except God. Jesus had said that too! In his encounter with the rich young ruler in Mk 10, after the man had called Jesus, “Good Master”, Jesus said, “Don’t you know? There is no one good except God.” How then can Paul promise you that one thing the Spirit will do when he comes into your life is make you good?
Let me tell you upfront that this message brings us into the very heart of the “good news” of the entire Bible. So, I want you to listen carefully. If you grasp what God ‘s Word is saying today about goodness, it will encourage you and give you hope. It will also teach you how to live a life that is meaningful each day. We’ll go at the subject very simply by looking at the two great texts that were used when Jesus and Paul spoke of goodness. As we do, we’ll reflect on 1) Being “good” (from Genesis 1), 2) living “good” (from Micah 6:6-8), and 3) becoming “good” – when we consider what I want you to take home from the sermon.
#1: Reflections on Being “Good” - “Everything God had made was very good (Gen. 1:31).”
To understand what Jesus was talking about when he said there is no one good except God, you have to remember what happened in Genesis 1-3. In the creation account in Gen. 1, the word good occurs 7 times -- a number that points to completeness and perfection throughout the Bible. Day 1) The light was good; 2) the skies and seas were good; 3) the stars were good; 4) the vegetation was good; 5) both day and night were good; 6) the fish, birds, and animals were good; 7) the people made in God’s image were good. When God was done, God paused to look at it. Imagine God, doing what I did after the Maple Street building was made ready to open. I went from room to room and enjoyed it. Think of God, standing back with his triune family . . . “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good (1:31).”
But now, centuries later, when you and I see everything that God has made -- from the air to the rivers, from the local news reports of our neighborhood to the developments in the Middle East – do you still have this sense of awe that says, “It’s all perfect and good?” When you look at your own life, do you say your life is perfect and good? I can’t imagine that any of us would say that!
What went wrong? Genesis 3 is what went wrong. People walked away from God and disobeyed him. That broke their relationship to a holy God. It also led to hostility in their relationship with one another. It led to a break with the created world that human beings were supposed to care for and rule over. By the end of Gen. 3, there was no one fully good – except God alone. That’s what Jesus was getting at in Mk 10.
Now, consider this: The things we do and make reveal a great deal about us. I’m quite sure you know a lot about me simply by the way I organize and deliver sermons. All that God has made should be a reflection of who he is. What God has made should show us his perfect goodness. As the Psalm 19:1 puts it, “The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament proclaims the work of God’s hands.”
But, right now, what we see in this world does not seem to proclaim God’s perfect goodness. In fact, our world is filled with brokenness, suffering, and evil. But, God declares in his Word, “I am in a renovation project. My work of art is not yet complete. Someday all that I have made will reveal all that I am.” My world and those in whom my Spirit dwells will be ‘good’ again.” The fruit of God’s Spirit is goodness. Our world will have no more effects of global warming, no more pollution, no more disease, no more trafficking, no more poverty, no more imprisonment, no war, and no death. You and I will be free from sin.
The fruit of the Spirit is goodness.
#2: Reflections on Living “Good” – “God has shown you, O Mankind, what is good (Mic 6:8).”
The “being” must flow into doing. We cannot live good lives as God means for us to live unless we allow God to change us from the inside to the out. Jesus told us that bad trees cannot bear good fruit. But, the goodness that the Spirit produces in us must flow out into our lives being changed. What does that look like?
One of the best discussions of good living is found in Micah 6:1-8. Written over 700 years before Jesus was born, I’m quite sure this text helped shape both Jesus’ and Paul’s words about goodness. In that great text, God tells the people of Judah that all God’s dealings with his people throughout history have demonstrated his goodness. And, when the people ask how this should look in our lives, the prophet simply declared, “God has shown you what is good: to do justice, and to love showing mercy and to walk humbly in relationship to God.” Do you see it? God calls us not only to be good but also to live good lives. What God does in forgiving us and changing us on the inside must flow out into a way of life that is very much like the way that God treats us.
So, what does a life of goodness look like? That’s what the people of Israel asked of God in Micah 6:6-7. “What does God expect of us in response to what He says He has done?” In Micah, the nation’s leaders asked: “Does God expect us to pay him back by showing up every week at boring worship services? Or, by bringing bigger and bigger offerings? Or, maybe, the only thing that would satisfy God would be for us to bring my firstborn to him?” I read vv.6-7 and think, “What arrogance!”
But, God answers, “I have shown you what is good by the way I have dealt with you.” V.8 tells you what is at the heart of good living. This is the goodness the fruit of the Spirit will produce in you.
What does God say that goodness looks like?
It is good to act justly. …what is good: to do justice (6:8a -- ESV)
This word justice has to do with things being right – when something is “just”, it is synced with God’s character and God’s ways. So, justice is very personal. It has to do with our own personal conduct turning from sin and being made right. Our actions will be just and right only when we grow in obedience to God instead of disobeying as Adam and Eve did.
And justice also is a call to action -- – God’s people are to act on behalf of what is right and just in the world in which God has put us. To act for justice means to use whatever influence we have to bring right the wrongs that sin has brought into the world.
As followers of Jesus, we are not just to talk or preach about justice. Not just to complain about people or systems that are unjust. So, in practice, what does this life look like? To act justly means that we will not cast a blind eye at the devastation that sin has brought into the created world. You and I were meant to rule over and maintain the goodness of what God created in Genesis 1 but we see how centuries of failing to do so has led to the ecological messes our world is filled with. I’m troubled that care for creation has become a political issue in our society. It’s clear to me that this is a biblical issue. We who know the Creator should be those who care the most about what out Father has made.
To act justly means that we are to seek to right the wrongs of homelessness or illness or depression or anything that is not “good” in this world. When we see evil, we call what it is and then we are to go into action, caring as our Father cares and doing what God enables us to do to bring God’s deliverance.
Acting justly is doing whatever God enables us to do to bringing about God’s good in this fallen world. That’s our calling. That’s what the Spirit syncs into our lives. God says, “By the way I’ve dealt with you, I’ve shown you what is good. What is good is to act for justice.”
It is good to love reconciled and lasting relationships. …what is good: to love “hesed” (6:8b)
The second part of good living brings us to a beautiful Hebrew word. “Hesed” is usually translated as “mercy”, “love” or “kindness” in our English Bibles.
The word is the word used most often in the OT to describe God’s loving relationship with his people. Because of that, it speaks of us having long-term, love-motivated relationships like God had with Israel -- and now has with you and me. To have that kind of relationship with imperfect people requires a willingness to forgive, to show mercy over and over, and to offer unmerited grace simply out of love.
And notice this: What is good is that “love” doing whatever we can to forgive, to show mercy and to offer reconciliation. “Ahab” is the strongest word in the Hebrew language for having a deep passion for something. God is saying that it is good to long passionately for healthy, lasting, loving relationships with all those He brings across our paths. When the Spirit of God produces goodness in you, you will know it when you love to forgive others and when you love to offer someone who has failed a new chance for friendship – just as God loves to do with you. This part of goodness is what will bring about true “community” – between black and white, rich and poor, male and female.
What makes that kind of goodness possible?
- It demands seeing others as God sees people. Each one is valuable. Each one…
- It demands crossing “comfort zones” to enter into relationships with people usually separated from us by the world’s ways and standards.
- It demands a heart’s desire to reconcile broken relationships – because you are so amazed that God does this. People fail. We know that. If you cannot show mercy, you will never be able to have lasting relationships with anyone – for all of us fall short. How do we do it? As God has forgiven us. How often? Hmm. Jesus said, “70 X 7.”
When the Spirit syncs our lives, we will live “good” lives. That means: We will act justly – not sweeping evil under the rug and ignoring it. But, at the same time, we will find ourselves passionately loving to find ways to forgive and to restore relationships. The fruit of the Spirit is this kind of goodness.
It is good to live humbly conscious of God’s presence …what is good: to walk humbly with God (6:8c)
This third phrase about being good is as beautiful as the other two. It speaks of the privilege Adam and Eve had of walking with God in the Garden of Eden. That was lost when they sinned. But, Jesus restores the privilege of walking day-by-day in the presence of God. For those not yet Christians or new to the faith, this is one of the most life-changing truths of the New Testament. When you receive Jesus as your Savior, he gives the Spirit of God to you. You will have the privilege of living, as a brother in Christ put it centuries ago, “Practicing the Presence of God.”
Here’s the point: When you know God is present only because he shown you mercy, you simply can no longer be proud or treat others in a self-righteous way. You won’t compare yourself to others and think, “Well, I’m not so bad. Look at these other people around me.” No, the measuring stick for your life will not be other fallen people – but God Himself. When you walk with God – and see yourself next to God -- you will indeed be humble.
And don’t is this: You are to “walk” humbly with God. It’s a daily way of life synced by the Spirit of God. When you walk with God, you will begin to see others as people for whom Christ gave His life. You will begin to see the world as God sees the world – for you are walking with him. All this is to say, that when the Spirit syncs your life with God’s goodness, you begin to participate with God in the kingdom work of calling everything back to good.
Goodness means we see the potential for goodness in every relationship. Goodness enables us to whisper into the lives of friend, stranger, or enemy alike: “You are fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). It means we have the privilege of telling every human being, In Christ, there is hope for you.”
I took time this past week to remember times when I sensed God changing my heart toward someone – and took me from being critical about a person to a deep desire to bring some of God’s goodness into their lives. I remembered an incident that happened one January when a family of five drove up to a church I was serving. I was in the church parking lot when they arrived. They had an old truck that looked a lot like the truck the Clampetts drove in the old Beverly Hillbillies TV show. The family’s father saw me and came over to speak. When he opened is mouth, I immediately recognized the accent. He was from my home area.
When he began to tell me the family’s story, I knew it was all a lie. He was from Bland, VA, 20 miles from my home. He said he was a church leader and that all his money was stolen, etc., etc. He asked for money promising to pay it back when he got back to VA. After he had spun a tale that I knew he had told often, I said, “I know pastors back in Bland. Let me give them a call to verify what you’ve said.
The man knew I had caught him in a lie. But, as I looked at him and at his family, I said, “Tell me the truth. What’s going on?” So he told me a story that I believe was true. And, at the end, he said, “I just want to get my family out of the cold tonight.” I wanted them out of the cold too. I called one of our deacons who came and joined me. Actually, with some extraordinary help from some church people, this family was able to begin rebuilding their lives. It doesn’t always work out in that same way. I know that. But, I sensed deeply that the God who has been so forgiving and merciful with me had moved in my inner being to turn me from pride and cynicism to humility and a longing to act for what was good for this family.
I think we probably all have opportunities to do good –to a greater or lesser extent – every day. And, I have been asking myself how this fruit of goodness might grow in me and in us all.
#3: Reflections on Becoming “Good”
As I have said each week in this series of messages, the fruit of God’s Spirit is something that God produces in us when our lives are surrendered by faith to Jesus. At the same time, the Bible gives us some good counsel about how to have our lives open to the Spirit’s work. I believe this part of my message could be a sermon in itself – so, instead, I will simply give you a few pieces of biblical counsel right now.
How might we cultivate Spirit-produced goodness in our lives:
#1: Focus -- Be attentive to recognizing God’s goodness as revealed n God’s Word
This has to start right here when I open God’s Word in my calling as pastor to us all. Here’s how I think about this: Since you and I are not yet perfectly good, we can only learn abut what is truly good by hearing again and again from God’s Word. It will be like a mirror to us – showing us what God’s image in us should look like and helping us to see what still needs to change in our lives. What this means practically is that the preacher’s job each week is to teach God’s Word. I believe that each part of it has a role in re-shaping our lives until everything is good again in us. If you don’t hear God’s Word – and read it regularly on your own – you won’t know what to change and how to live.
Your role each week is to be very attentive. Listen carefully for what God says to you each time this Word is opened. Put away your phone. Focus on what God wants to say to you.
#2: Admit --Take time regularly to come clean about the badness inside and to turn back to God.
I think this also must happen each week when we gather together. As we did earlier in this service, each week we need to be here and then to have a time of confession. As Philip Kennesen wrote, “Confession has been an important practice of the church for centuries but it is becoming less popular in the age of self-help and feel good religion.” But, it’s not just out there in the world that things are not good. You and I do not yet have everything in sync with God. We need to confess our sin and hear again, “I will forgive you for I am good and I love to show mercy.”
Then, the times of confession we have each week in worship should be replicated in your daily devotional time. Admit your sin – and then bask in God’s mercy. What a way to begin each day!
#3: Watch – Observe and be shaped by those in whom you see goodness.
As I prepared this sermon, I was struck again by how often the New Testament tells us that we learn to walk with God by observing others who are walking with God in such ways that we see the fruit of God’s Spirit in them. Learning to live a life of goodness does not just come from learning the right principles but from watching a life of a person who is growing in his/her walk with God. Learning to live in sync with the Spirit is not like learning how to fix a care. It’s developed more like learning to play tennis – you read or hear how to do it. But, much more, you watch others who do it well and imitate them.
So, look for someone who seems to be showing you the goodness of God by the way he or she lives – and do likewise. We have lots of people here at LAC who have walked with Jesus a long, long time. There must be someone you can watch and observe the “goodness” of the Spirit in his or her lives. Of the many verses that tell us to do this, I’ll show you just one. Heb. 13:7: “Remember your spiritual leaders, especially those who have taught God’s Word to you. Think about the results of their way of life. Then, copy their walk.”
#4: Act -- Each morning, pray that God will show you ways to further his goodness in the world.
I hope that, if you remember little else, you will remember little else from this sermon, you will remember Micah 6:8. What is good? God has shown you. It is to act justly, to love restoring and maintaining relationships, and to walk side-by-side, humbly with the Lord.
This is what is good. And the fruit of God’s Spirit is goodness.