Goodness

When Bryan Herrington died sixteen years ago, his donated organs saved the life of four people.

One of them was Jeffrey Granger, who received Bryan’s kidney and pancreas. He and Bryan’s wife, Terri, became friends over the years.

Bryan’s kidney in Jeffrey failed last year. Terri immediately volunteered to donate her kidney, which is now implanted in Jeffrey. 

The surgeon who operated on Terri said it’s common for donated kidneys that fail to remain in transplant patients even after new ones are in place. 

As a result, Terri’s kidney is sitting next to the kidney donated by her late husband. 

Terri says, “We are back together.” 

How Do You Demonstrate Goodness?

"Goodness" translates the Greek word agathosune, which means "goodness in action." 

Scripture says that our Lord is a "good" Father. 

Consider Nehemiah 9:35: "Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works." 

Hundreds of times, the Scriptures call God "good."

All through the Bible, we find God initiating such goodness toward us:

• "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He took the initiative to find us when we didn't want to be found.
• This was His Son's mission in life: "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10).

Now God calls us to initiate goodness toward others:

• "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone" (Matthew 18:15).
• "If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23–24).

Think of the last sin God forgave in your life. 

Now think of the person whose sin you need to forgive and choose to initiate goodness today.

Apply the lesson

• Recount how God has been good to you in the last twenty-four hours. In the last week. In the last month. In the last year.
• Why is goodness one quality of a civil person? Put another way: How does goodness cause an uncivil person to react?
• To whom do you need to initiate goodness this week?
• Pray that God would help you proactively initiate goodness toward others.