Bearing Fruit: Goodness

As I read about goodness, I find that (at least in 4 instances) it shows up right alongside mercy. Goodness is a hard word to wrap my brain around because it’s so broad. It seems wispy and unreachable, yet it’s a word that we use daily - it’s almost lost its meaning. But for it to show up with mercy seems to reveal something more about goodness.

Mercy is not giving someone something (punishment) they 100% deserve. 
Goodness (I think) is totally pure - the complete absence of evil or wrongdoing - wholly complete and fully operational in its intended purpose. 

Just like the rest of the Fruit, we don’t produce goodness out of sheer willpower. Perhaps more than any other fruit, goodness is produced in us despite our willpower. 

“I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom i will show mercy.” - Exodus 33:19

When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God showed him His goodness. I’m not going to pretend to understand the mind of God and all the reasons why He did that. But, then he followed up with telling Moses that He will be gracious and merciful to those He chooses. We learn here that goodness is somehow linked with grace and mercy.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” - Psalm 23:5-6

In Psalm 23 (which we all know and love) David says, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.”

He saw the connection between goodness and mercy too. If you remember the verses right before that, they talk about God preparing a table for him and anointing him with oil until his cup overflows. Goodness and mercy come from the abundance of God’s anointing on David’s life. And he said they would follow him, emphasizing that they are not produced by him, rather for him from the Good Shepherd.

“On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women.” - Zechariah 9:17

Then we look at Zechariah. I know this book is definitely part of your daily scripture reading, right? Again, mercy is closely linked to goodness. The prophet declares the Lord’s goodness in response to His mercy.

“But when the goodness and lovingkindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” - Titus 3:4-7

Finally, our dear friend Titus just lays it all out for us in a beautiful run-on sentence. Titus tells us that it’s the goodness of God that saved us according to His mercy. He leaves no room to question our own part in it, but makes it clear that our salvation has nothing to do with our work (or willpower), and everything to do with the goodness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

So, these scriptures tell us a lot about God’s goodness, but what about goodness produced in us as the fruit of the Spirit? Well, I don’t think it looks all that different. It’s God’s goodness that is produced in us, just like the rest of the Fruit of the Spirit, so goodness in our life should show up with mercy and grace and lovingkindness.