“The spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22,23).
Name five things that are good.
I’m betting pizza showed up on that list, or possibly a sports hero like Peyton Manning. Some people have really good dogs.
If God made a “good” list, your name would be on it. Are you surprised? Don’t be.
Because you are in the three-legged race with the Holy Spirit, the God who is good gives you all his good stuff too. “May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. I’m convinced, brothers and sisters, that you, too, are filled with goodness” (Romans 15:13,14).
Here’s how it works: God fills you with joy and peace. That gives you hope, so much hope that it overflows—it spills out all over the place in your life. Because you have all these good things in your life, your goodness spills out of you—and you share it with your classmates, your neighbors, your friends, your parents.
Every day you now get to hear God say, “Good job! You’re a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s happiness” (Matthew 25:23).
Dear God, you have made me good. Sometimes I just don’t believe it, though. Or sometimes I forget it. I need your Holy Spirit to remind me every day that when you see me, you see Jesus. Thank you for filling me with your goodness and for sharing that goodness with others. Thank you for letting me share your happiness. Amen.
