Goodness

It may seem strange that "goodness" would be listed as a fruit of God's Spirit - especially when Jesus, himself, said that no one is really good.

A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. (Luke 18:18-19 NIV)

The more we follow the life and teachings of Jesus, though, we find out that he was making a point there. There was a head-fake in the direction that he wanted his audience to go: only God is good + Jesus is good = Jesus is God. More than that, though, goodness was at the center of his preaching and teaching. After all, what he had to share was considered "good news."

But he said, "I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (Luke 4:43-44 NIV)

Jesus was good and brought good news to you and me.

How about you? Do you see goodness at the center of Jesus' teachings? Do you see it at the center of his life? Is goodness at the center of yours?