The Fruit of Goodness

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." – Galatians 5:22-23  
  
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that our primary focus shouldn’t be on this temporary life but rather on the eternal home we have with God. This perspective helps us live purposefully, knowing that our mission on earth is to please and serve Him. While we are here, God has equipped us with gifts, both spiritual and fruit gifts, to fulfill this mission.

It’s crucial to understand that true goodness isn’t something we can manufacture on our own. Without God, there is nothing inherently good in us. Goodness is a gift that comes from the Holy Spirit, not a trait we can simply develop through our own efforts.
 
Think of it this way: real fruit is a natural product, growing from a living plant. You can’t fake it. Fake fruit might look appealing on the outside, but it lacks the vitality and essence of real fruit. Similarly, genuine goodness, like all the fruit of the Spirit, is produced by the Holy Spirit in the life of a true believer. It reflects a heart that is saved, surrendered, and living for God.

It’s easy to appear good on the outside, but only the Holy Spirit can produce real fruit in us. This means that if we are not connected to the Holy Spirit, we may be able to fool others but never God.  

Jesus warned us about this in Matthew 7:21-23. He said that not everyone who claims to follow Him will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of His Father. Many will try to showcase their works, but Jesus will say, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!”
 
Reflect on your life and your connection with the Holy Spirit. Are you bearing real fruit, or is it merely a facade? Remember, genuine goodness comes from a life transformed by Christ, not just from trying to be a better person. Seek the Spirit’s power and presence to produce true fruit in your life and live out the goodness that reflects your relationship with Him.

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