Is there a standard we should follow when it comes to goodness? How can we figure out what that standard is? This devotion will attempt to answer those questions.
Nuggets
- We are told that goodness comes from God.
- God was working with us to instill His goodness within us.
- God’s goodness is shown by His laws and commandments.
- Every good comes from God.
Devotions in the Christian Virtues series
In the last devotion, we said that faith was the foundation of our virtues. Next, Peter described goodness as a virtue.
Let's Put It into Context
“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (II Pet. 1: 5-7 CSB)
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines virtue as a “conformity to a standard of right” or “a particular moral excellence.” It is talking about how we conduct ourselves as we live our lives.
When we think about a virtue, we think about this being something on which we do not compromise. At times, we look at it as a strength of character.
But look at that one word in verse 5: supplement. Supplement means, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “something that completes or makes an addition.”
Peter wrote this a progression — we have A, add B. Repeat. We can look at these two ways. This is how we
- Work out our salvation.
- Go through the process of sanctification.
To read a related devotion, click on the appropriate button below.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary used several words to describe being good. They used commendable, kind, and benevolent.
Holman Bible Dictionary tells us that goodness comes from God. “In contrast to the Greek view of ‘the good’ as an ideal, the biblical concept focuses on concrete experiences of what God has done and is doing in the lives of God’s people” (Holman Bible Dictionary).
God’s Goodness
“You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees” (Ps. 119: 68 NLT)
If you look at the Bible, we are told that goodness comes from God. The Homilist wrote this goodness refers to being “good in the sense of kindness and in the sense of moral perfection, — the primal Font of all happiness in the universe, and the immutable Standard of all excellence.”
That means we should follow God’s standard.
We know that being perfected means being blessed. Blessedness means we have been perfected. For the disciple, perfection is holy, sanctified, and righteous.
Holy means to be set apart, perfect, and pure. Sanctification is the process where our lives are changed, and we made holy. Righteousness is the result of a solid relationship with God. Blackall said that righteousness is “living a life in sincere and perfect obedience to all the laws of God.”
Lessey explains that God’s goodness is an extension of His perfection. It is drawn from the fact that His Will does not change.
We see evidence in the Bible of God’s goodness. Emmons wrote, “The goodness of God must have moved Him to form, before the foundation of the world, the best possible method of doing the greatest possible good. His goodness must have moved Him to employ His wisdom in the best possible manner.”
God’s Goodness in Us
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Phil. 1: 6 NLT).
Paul was convinced that God was working with us to instill His goodness within us. We were made new creatures, to more resemble Him (II Cor. 5: 17).
Tuck listed the signs showing this installation is occurring. “What then is the sign? Love to God, Christ, man, showing itself in trust and obedience, and goodness.”
We exhibit God’s goodness when we imitate God and show His love to others. God is the author of all things good. He possesses the wisdom along with the goodness to cause this work not only to begin but also to be completed.
We also exhibit God’s goodness when we imitate Christ. When we react in ways that Jesus would react, we are showing others His character.
When we show our trust and obedience in God, we are also exhibiting God’s goodness. We are changed by trusting and obeying Him — changed to be more like Him, including exhibiting the goodness.
Yeah, God has a lot of work to do within us. “Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good” (Ps. 119: 39 NLT).
God’s Goodness in His Laws and Commands
“But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good” (Rom. 7: 12 NLT).
Yes, God’s goodness is shown by His laws and commandments. We’ve said on several occasions that the law shows us God’s character.
But it does more than that. It gives us God’s expectations of how we should live our lives — it gives us a right way to live and a wrong way to live. This right way and wrong way promotes goodness.
It is interesting that one of the definitions the Merriam-Webster Dictionary gave for good was “conforming to a standard.”
We are to conform to God’s standards because they “… are holy and right and good” (Rom. 7: 12 NLT).
God’s Goodness to Us
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (Jas. 1: 17 NIV).
Bottom line, every good comes from God. He gives us
- Life
- Forgiveness
- Salvation
- Guidance through the Holy Spirit
- Moral excellence
- Strength
- Hope
- Eternal life
Making the Connections
Worldview people think they can be good without God. They don’t realize that their actions are, in reality, empty because they lack God’s perfection. Their efforts extend from their sinful nature.
Their actions come from the evil in the world today. That is because Satan is controlling this world. If they have not submitted to God, they are controlled by Satan.
Good cannot come from evil.
Worldview people today don’t want the boundaries associated with God’s laws and commandments. They want the freedom to do whatever they want.
What worldview people don’t recognize is that God’s laws and commandments are “… the expression and emanation of the perfect nature and will of God, ‘the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul’” (Bayley). They bring the goodness out of us — and give us a peace.
Making the Connections to Self-Discipline
We said Second Peter 1: 5-7 was a progression. It is as we are told in Romans 8: 30. “And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified” (Rom. 8: 30 CSB).
We have to be self-disciplined in order to facilitate the growth needed. If we aren’t intentional and dedicated to growing, it doesn’t happen.
How Do We Apply This?
First, we have to ABCD. Salvation eliminates evil and replaces it with good.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
If we haven’t ABCDed yet, we need to search for God. If we have, we need to see Him to grow more like Him. We do that the same say.
We have to be self-disciplined in order to facilitate the growth needed. If we aren’t intentional and dedicated to growing, it doesn’t happen.
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11).
To read Has God Provided Everything We Need?, click the button below.
Goodness is a good next step after faith. Faith has to be the foundation. If we don’t have the faith, why do the rest?
After our conversion, goodness seems like goodness is the logical next step. We are so excited about our new lives; we look at others differently and want them to share what we have found.
Goodness is a good virtue to have when we are witnessing. It not only might open some doors to facilitate the witnessing, but it also shows who God is.
As Peter implied, it is a progression. The next devotion will look at knowledge.
Good, good Father. You are good, and You have given good to us. Help us to show that good to all we come into contact with so that they will want to learn of You. Amen.
If you have not admitted that your relationship is not right with God,
have not asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior,
and have not confessed your sins,
please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
Related Links
Related Links
I have created a worksheet of the questions above. Click on the button below to access it.
Don’t know what your spiritual gifts are?
Take this Spiritual Gifts Inventory
The Disciple’s Job Description
Complete Job Description
Individual Description
Job Duty #1
Be a Living Sacrifice (Romans 12: 1-2)
Job Duty #2
Work Out Our Salvation (Philippians 2: 12)
Job Duty #3
Bring Him Glory (Matthew 5: 16)
Job Duty #4
Proclaim the Gospel (Mark 16: 15)
Job Duty #5
Love People (John 15: 12)
Job Duty #6
Make Disciples (Matthew 28: 19-20)
Job Duty #7
Other Duties as Assigned
(Ecclesiastes 3: 1)
It Was Enough
Vocalist: Elaine Guthals
Keyboard: Chris Vieth
What do you think?
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