Fruits of the Spirit in Everyday LifeSample

GOODNESS as a Fruit of the Light

Read Ephesians chapter 5 verses 3-14

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Reflection on the passage:
One of the gifts I most treasure that my parents gave me is a love of goodness, nurtured in part by the stories they read to my brother, sister, and me. One of these books was the old Scottish novel Sir Gibbie by George MacDonald, a book often recommended by C.S. Lewis in his letters. I don’t remember much about the plot after so many years, but I do remember being deeply moved by the book’s hero, a mute orphan boy whose unfailing, spontaneous goodness was so beautiful! He went through some dark things at the hands of others, but the beauty of his character shone through. In our passage from Ephesians 5, Paul reminds us that we are “children of light” and exhorts us to live into this rather than get stuck in dark, sinful behaviors. It is when we live in God’s light that the fruits of goodness, righteousness, and truth are produced in us.

Paul gives serious warning about the fruitless deeds of darkness – everything counter to what is good, right, and true. He gives many examples including sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking. He warns us not to listen to those who say that how we live doesn’t matter, but instead to avoid these behaviors and expose them to the light.

Yet it is in this exposure to the light of goodness, righteousness, and truth that hope is found! Paul, in verse 13 writes, “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.” That means that even the dark things can become light when we allow Christ’s light to shine on them and transform them! This is the hope of the gospel – that Christ wakes us up from the sleep of death and transforms us in the light of His goodness.

May we, like the little orphan boy in MacDonald’s novel, allow the light of Christ’s goodness to shine through us into a dark world, drawing others into the hope we have in Christ!

Focus verses for prayerful reflection:

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephesians chapter 5 verses 8, 9 and 10)

1. As you read this verse, begin by praising and thanking God for bringing you out of darkness and making you a child of light.
2. One way to define goodness is “what pleases the Lord.” Take some time in prayer to allow Christ’s light to shine on you and reveal any darkness in you that He wants to expose. Allow Him to bathe it in His glorious goodness, as you trust in His ongoing, loving work within you.