Acts 11:22-24
"Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent our Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord."
Jesus once asked a startling question of a man who came seeking after faith: "Why do you call me good?" To a believer, there seems to be an obvious answer. As God, Jesus was surely good. However, the world does not define Jesus a good because he was God, but based on the goodness of his life.
You see, man's way is to define one as good based on external standards of goodness. One is good who gives to the poor. A child is good if they are well-behaved. A woman is good who cares for diligently for her children. While these are good things for people to do, according to the word, no one is good, except God.
Here's the problem. When we compare ourselves to God's standard of goodness, we all fall short. Still, Luke calls Barnabas a good man. How can this be?
Luke records the answer for us in the very next phrase. Barnabas was "full of the Holy Spirit and of faith". The Spirit's touch upon the life of a believer is what defines them as good, for where God dwells, all unrighteousness is driven away.
By definition, every believer is a good man or woman in Christ. We've been changed from darkness to light. Paul tells us even the sins we commit after our salvation are not of us, but of the sin that still dwells in our fleshly bodies. One day, even these bodies will be changed unto righteousness and sin will no longer be associated with us at all. That's one promise I can't wait for, growing tired of my inability to fight off sin.
Growing up, I learned to identify the notes of the treble clef by the first letters of the phrase, "Every good boy does fine." As believers, we're the good ones, in God's eyes we've been made fine. I know I'm accepted by Christ according to the Spirit's indwelling presence.
If you want goodness if your life, then look to the Holy Spirit. Get up every morning and ask the Spirit to fill you full of God's goodness. Not only will you please God, but your life will bless others as Christ shines through you.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for the goodness of your Spirit. May I do nothing each day to resist your goodness, instead embracing your presence and the Spirit that lives within me. Amen.
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