Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

THE GLORY OF GOODNESS

This entry was posted on 04-28-2008 and is filed under uncategorized.

"Goodness" is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). My goodness, how we need goodness in our lives today! The following is excerpted from a sermon I have preached a number of times, "Barnabas, The Man Who Made Goodness Attractive." (I am indebted to the late Ed McSpadden for the sermon idea).

"For he (Barnabas) was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith" (Acts 11:24 NKJV). How many of us would want those words as our epitaph? Perhaps we would rather have the words, "For he was a great man." But it is only as we are good that we can be considered great in God's sight. "The fruit of the Spirit is goodness." Only two men are described as being "good" in the Bible: Barnabas and Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:50).

Barnabas had the goodness of a generous spirit (Acts 4:36, 37). No one can be called good who is miserly, grasping, and covetous. Barnabas had the goodness of a magnanimous spirit (Acts 9:26, 27. No one would touch Saul of Tarsus with a 10-foot pole. Not so, Barnabas. He was so magnanimous he probably had a big swig of "Milk of Magnanimous" every morning! Barnabas had the goodness of an infectious spirit (Acts 4:36). The apostles nicknamed him "Son of Encouragement." (What might they nickname you?). Finally, Barnabas had the goodness of a solicitous spirit (Acts 11:24). Because of his ministry "a great many people were added to the Lord."

Notice that both Acts 11:24 and Gal. 5:22 identify the power source and supply of goodness - the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit produced goodness in his life, prodded him to be good, and propelled him on to biblical goodness. Let God's Spirit do the same in your life. "His power can make you ought to be!"

Prayer: O God, how we want to be filled with Your goodness through Your Spirit. Make us a person like Barnabas that we might be a mighty blessing to others and bring You glory. Through Christ we pray.