Going for the Good

In the words of C. S. Lewis, “God is not merely good, but goodness; goodness is not merely divine, but God.”

Through goodness, the sixth fruit of the spirit, we are connected to the One True God.

He created us and formed us in His image.

He fathers us and gives us eternal life.

If we know Him, “surely goodness and mercy will follow [us] all the days of our lives.”

From her devotional Too Blessed to Be Stressed, Deborah M. Coty states, “Goodness is nothing from within ourselves, but everything from God’s orchestration.” She equates goodness with an edible fruit when she says,

“In the Spirit’s fruit basket, goodness is the cantaloupe—sweet and juicy and bursting with the unique flavor of its Creator. God’s flavor, His essence, is goodness. And the only way we can exude goodness is if He is dwelling within us.”

Jill Roman Lord’s picture book If Jesus Lived Inside My Heart shares many examples of how we can be filled with the fruit of goodness. Showing kindness, sharing our toys and our cookies, apologizing when we are wrong, offering to help, and asking for forgiveness—these are all acts of goodness—not just acts designed for children ages three through eight. What a wonderful place the world would be if we all practiced these attributes!

Chris Tomlin’s praise song “Good Good Father” reminds us that we are who we are because of who He is—a good, good Father, perfect in every way.

In his children’s book based on this song, Chris Tomlin and co-author Pat Barrett write, “[We] want our kids to understand that God isn’t some distant God. In fact, God is often described as a Father.”

 ^“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father.”—James 1:17

The lion king in Good Good Father covers the characters in the town with His goodness. He protects them, teaches them, heals them, provides for them, and fills their lives with joy. Most importantly, He loves them. He’s a good, good father!

According to Acts 10:38, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”

John W. Peterson’s song “He Went About Doing Good” echoes these words in Acts and the sentiments of Good Good Father.

When our Lord was here, Our Savior dear,
He gladdened each neighborhood;
For the Bible tells, the message spells,
“He went about doing good.”

He went about doing good,
And helping where’er He could;
Our example is He,
And like Him we should be,
Who went about doing good.

Like Tomlin’s lion king, this song reminds us of the Lord’s provision, His protection, and His promise to love us always. He is goodness personified.

When I was in college, I sang in a choral group called “Cumberland Voices.”  Armed with matching outfits and Kurt Kaiser’s Sing ‘n’ Celebrate accompaniment tapes, we visited area CP churches and shared praise and worship music. One of my favorite songs was “Surely Goodness and Mercy” by John W. Peterson. This song, based on Psalm 23, always spoke to my heart. It has stayed in my heart all these years.

The lyrics remind me that I was a wandering pilgrim, and I was surrounded by sin. Then the good Shepherd found me, and He showed me the way home.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days, all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever,
And I shall feast at the table spread for me;
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days, all the days of my life.

Richard Jesse Watson’s Psalm 23 is a beautiful reminder of how following the good Shepherd paves the path for goodness to be with us all the days of our lives.

Let the goodness of God living inside you show through your words, your actions, your deeds. Go to Sunday school and church every week. Say please and thank you. Study to show yourself approved unto God. Share your blessings. Take in a little less garbage. Obey the Word. Make your bed every morning. Love your neighbor.

Like the Good Samaritan, be the godly person who stops and shows compassion for the one in need. As a result, surely goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

“No one who is good can ever by ugly.”—Roald Dahl

“The sincere wish to be good is half the battle.”—Louisa May Alcott

“How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world.”—William Shakespeare

Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 5:15-16; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 4:29