Goodness

Guest Blogger: Tom Fogarty

"For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord."
-Ephesians 5:8-10 (ESV)

Do you remember as a small child being told to "be good" by your parents? Perhaps there was company over, you were going out somewhere, or maybe you were just doing something bad. Basically, your parents were saying "act right," whatever that view of righteousness was in their eyes.

God asks the same thing of us, His children when He calls us to be lights in this world. (Matt 5:4) That means the world has to see the fruit of that light and we can no longer walk in darkness, because our Father has told us not to; and as good children, we seek to please Him.

Others will see our goodness in our actions and in our speech, but God will see it in our faith. (Gal 3:11) That kind of faith that we are to live by tells us that we are to obey God no matter what, because we have faith.  God knows when we are good; and that goodness is powerful in our prayers: "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (Jas 5:16)

We will never be as good as God, and as "imitators of God," (Eph 5:1) we will fail sometimes; but no matter what, we should always be seeking a righteous life in the Lord. (Matt 6:44)

You good?

Comments

[Margie]

Ok, here goes my halo... really, I don't think it's that easy to be good, I think it's a conscious decision that has to be made over and over, like constant surrender, but the benefits of that goodness and surrender... man, they are out of this world.

Great post!

[crystal]

Isn't it crazy how easy it is to be good. Yet we make it like it's hard. Just like your analogy. thanks
Tom

[TJ Reid]

"Others will see our goodness in our actions and speech, but God will see it in our faith".

That's so good! The invisible things that no one else could see, God sees: FAITH.

Good stuff, Tom.

TJ

[Pants]

Goooooooood :)

[Erin]

what a simple yet powerful picture of a parent telling a child to "be good." love it Tom! thanks!