Chris's Lymphoma Journey

Fruit.  I love fruit.  

I love the fruit that Michigan provides: strawberries, cherries, peaches, blueberries and apples.

Since we have lived in Thailand for 14 years, serving in ministry, those fruits I mentioned are difficult and sometimes impossible to find here.  Additionally, they can be expensive.. the package of Imported cherries I saw in the store, each cherry cost $1!

Thankfully, I have found new fruits to love: passionfruit, Lychee, Mangos, guava, and papaya, but it took some time for my taste buds to make the change.

But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness.

God’s Goodness!

The Greek word for goodness used in Galatians 5:22 is agathōsynē.  We know that this word has several meanings because it’s used in several other places in the New Testament.  For example, Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness (ἀγαθωσύνη) and your every deed prompted by faith.”

God’s Goodness in us!  Goodness is a divine quality, part of God’s character, that he wants to bring about in us.

Agathōsynē also means God’s generous goodness, or generosity.  Our God is a generous God!  And we see this all throughout the Scriptures.  James says:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

God gives generously to those who ask, not because we deserve anything, but because He is good!

In the midst of cancer last year, I did not deserve physical healing, yet God in his generous goodness restored me to full health.  There is tension in the mystery of his generosity versus my own expectations and desires.  Not because of who I am or who the doctors are, but because of who He is.  He is good!

Throughout the biblical story one message rings true: God is good.

Goodness as a fruit of the spirit is a bit obscure, not as easily defined as kindness, or patience.  

In Psalm 34:8 we are encouraged to taste and see that the Lord is good.  If I was to paraphrase this I would say we are to experience and realize the goodness of the Lord in our life, even in life’s most challenging circumstances.  As the verse continues “blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (in his goodness).

By taking refuge in him and his goodness, 

by becoming like him in his goodness, we can then reflect His goodness to others.   This goodness is found in God alone; not our abilities, the expectations of others, or messages of the world.  

Therefore, we do not merely choose to “be good”  by doing “good things”.  But through taking refuge in God- his goodness will naturally permeate into all we do.  This goodness spilling over often looks like generosity.  Goodness or generosity in what we do, in what we say, what we think, and our choices.

I go to the local market often to buy fruits and vegetables.  There are several vendors that I often frequent with whom I have developed a relationship.  One woman in particular is heavily pregnant with her third child.  Recently, she shared with me some of her struggles: selling vegetables in the 100 degree heat, caring for her 2 children while working and pregnant, and her oldest child is displaying learning disabilities.  Taking time to listen to her story, not judging her circumstances, and choosing to buy produce from her even if it doesn’t look the best are small ways I am trying to be generous.  I pray that she will see God’s goodness spilling over from me to her.

Just as my taste buds needed time to make the shift from raspberries to Lychee, my heart continually needs time to taste and see God’s goodness.   Allowing God’s truths to permeate my thinking and my actions will open the door for generous goodness.

Where do you desire to experience generous goodness in your life?

Where are you resistant to the experience of goodness in your life?