Be Good
Updated: Oct 5
My Daughter, Take My Hand, and Be Good
Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is… goodness... Against such there is no law.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven
Galatians 6:9,10 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Psalm 27:13,14 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
1John 4:17,18 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in the world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Thank You Heavenly Father
Your love, the love of Jesus Christ and the power of Your Holy Spirit will always lead me to His goodness.
You can approach God with your faith in His goodness, or you can approach Him out of fear. When you do this in fear you are worrying about your worthiness. You are using your own standard of what good is and applying it to God’s standard. You see yourself as never being good enough for a good God.
If you believe God’s goodness is extended to you based on your goodness, you will not escape an endless cycle of self-condemnation, guilt, and mental torment.
In essence, you are looking at yourself and judging that God’s goodness is dependent on your behavior.
This is not true.
Our Heavenly Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to put an end to that torment. And for the joy set before Him, Jesus Christ took all your sins and sicknesses on His own body and provided you with forgiveness and healing.
There is nothing you must do to deserve His goodness. He has done it all. Jesus has already provided the way of escape.
I do not think this is a belief that comes to one's heart easily.
You live in a world where you must earn everything you have. The more you work, the more you have.
This is not God’s economy.
I had to take a hard look at how I viewed the goodness of God. Did I think God would still be good to me even if I did not pray enough, or I sinned.
That was fear rather than the goodness of God motivating me to pray or repent of my sins.
Your life can be characterized by goodness when you allow the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth about the goodness of God.
When you trust that God is good all the time, you will approach His throne of grace motivated by His love to pray in good and hard times. You will see the need to repent of your sins and receive His forgiveness.
God’s goodness to you, my Daughter comes from His heart of love for you.
God promises in Psalm 23:5,6 that His goodness is for you today and forever.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
All scripture above taken from NKJV. See Scripture Acknowledgements page