Being Good

"Goodness in man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good." (http://www.dictionary.com/)

That's what the Dictionary says goodness is. "A deliberate preference of right to wrong." Not only that (everyone probably prefers right to wrong), but acting upon that feeling. Goodness isn't just wanting right. It's doing right. It's moving toward perfection in Christ, which is shown through maturity. Making right decisions motivated by the love of God.

The thing is, it isn't easy to just up and do right. Our sinful nature tries to stifle all urges toward righteousness. Paul says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (Romans 7:15)

This isn't something we can do on our own - there is nothing we can do perfectly on our own. This is a part of the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of us working hard. Yes, we do have to want it and do our best to go after goodness, but being truly good is only made perfect in God. We can't get there on our own.

-Aylin