I AM GOODNESS PART II

My, Devotion to Him #325

An old lady is at the cash register and does not have enough to pay for the food. The man behind her pays the bill quietly as a group forms behind them. Without mentioning anything or getting his phone out to record it, he slips the money to the clerk. The old lady is overcome and thanks him. He does not make a scene about it and quietly accepts her appreciation. She leaves the store with her food and a smile on her face. The man checks out and goes on his way home. While driving down the road, he explains his actions to his daughter, who is quite curious as to why he has given money to someone without getting anything in return. 

He explains it was the right thing to do. Everyone needs help, and we had the chance to be that helper. If our grandma needed help, we’d want everything to be done for her, so we treat others with the same care because she is also someone’s grandma. 

The man cherished these moments with his daughter as they were significant opportunities to shape her character, instill morals and values, and show her the message of Christ is to be walked out. 

Before he got home, there was a soft voice speaking to him. As he started to pay more attention, he noticed it was saying, “There was more to do.” The man began to weep as he understood that what he had done was good and, in fact, an art that was lost upon many as he has seen those around him close their fists, clinging to every dollar they have, daring not to give a penny to any in need. But there was more to do. See, the man understood that goodness has no limit; it is we who place limits on this very word. What was more that could have been done for this old lady? It may seem excessive and absurd, but the man could’ve taken her cart to the car for her, loaded her groceries in the car, and returned the cart.

I am sad to admit this: I was that man. There is always more that can be done. Even in our busy lives, I was there buying my stuff, needed to get home and start supper, getting my kid to bed on time, and a million other things. However, goodness calls us to set aside what we are doing in order to help. So that we may show what is good, right, and honorable.

The true test of goodness is not in the more extravagant things but in the small opportunities that arise daily in each of our lives. Not what can be done when everyone is around and the spotlight is on you or someone in need. Not when the bells are going off in a public call for action but when the fire is burning low, and none are around when life has you strapped to a schedule, the eyes are heavy, your feet are sore, and your back is aching. In the impossible moments, we find some of the most memorable encounters for us to continue showing God’s goodness. 

Consistency must become our habit, not out of a need to be the “good” little Christian, always doing the “good” little things, but because we have the desire and urgency within to be good, a yearning to want what God wants, to do what He wants. It must be our prayer that God finds more ways for us to help, and I’m not suggesting we spend day and night to prove we are good, as that only defeats precisely what is being told here. I’m not saying we must do more than others to be good. This is for us to grow into; we must want it to bear this good fruit. 

God isn’t calling us to give 100% of our time, nor is He demanding we go above and beyond every single time, as this only again defeats what is being said. 

Goodness has no limit. Therefore, there is no measuring stick for how much we can do in every situation, but as we grow and produce this fruit, we should be mindful of the Spirit as it guides us in our actions and tugs at our hearts when and where to do more.

Verse Passage: Luke 6:31 “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” – ESV.

Word-for-word, this verse calls for us to do good things and be the best we can be. Showing goodness in the world is impactful. It may not be one you will see given back to you instantly, but one who exhibits goodness to one impacts them to demonstrate goodness to others, and the dominos start to fall all around.

For a moment, think about how impactful the Christian community could be if we started to live a life fashioned after the goodness of God. Without splitting groups, factions, and every other way we label others, there are 2.38 billion believers within the Christian community, with 7.88 billion people worldwide. This means everyone could be shown goodness in one day if we acted on the goodness within us, which amounts to only three people per believer.

How impactful and nation-changing could we be to live a life that is earnestly seeking to do and be good to others around us without any expectations. We simply do because we love the Lord and strive to be His reflection so that we may be pleasing to Him. That we may satisfy the call within us. 

Exhibiting goodness is not natural for the body because our flesh desires our self. Even the world wants and encourages selfish behavior, not selflessness. There will be a struggle, a battleground will be upon you, but we must enter with boldness and gladness for we are doing the work of Christ.

Fruit grows under the intentional cultivation of the Spirit in your own life. Cultivation takes time, consistency, and care. The progress of such cultivation is not always rapid, nor are the results of its growth. Like a farmer tending to his field, there are ups and downs, good and bad days, and a struggle to not give up. 

Discipline is one of the most effective ways to make something routine, natural, and done without hesitation. Learning something right the first time and then doing it over and over the exact same way makes a habit. As such, goodness must be done the same with daily usage, and perseverance will undoubtedly lead us to maturing in the very word and building up our character.

We must take this word and discipline ourselves in its usage while the Spirit nurtures our practice of it in daily living.

Having goodness and being good should be and is one of the highest goals in Christianity. Goodness is a very real obtainable thing for everyone who seeks it; it is a life caring for others just as Christ lived. This goodness is not based on the world’s perspective; you’ll find it’s constantly changing and very unstable. Instead, for Christians, the life of goodness is one with God-centered right in the middle. One in which we recognize that God has placed this within all of us, and we cannot and will not be our best until we cultivate this fantastic fruit. 

It is a life that is willing to allow the Spirit to work within us so that we may be the goodness of Christ to others and touch this world once again. 

It is time for each of us to stand and declare, “I AM GOODNESS.”

God bless,

Copyright © 2023 by Jacob Olinger