Devotion

Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise." 

Luke 10: 25 - 37

Have you ever walked past someone who needed help and kept going? Maybe you told yourself you were too busy, or it wasn't really your problem. If so, you're in good company, because that's exactly what happens in one of Jesus' most famous stories. 

In Luke 10:25–37, a man is beaten, robbed, and left on the side of the road. Two religious leaders - people you'd expect to stop - walk right past him. Then along comes a Samaritan. In Jesus' day, Samaritans and Jews didn't get along at all. This man had every reason to keep walking. Instead, he stopped. He bandaged the man's wounds, carried him to safety, and paid for his care, asking nothing in return.

Jesus told this story to answer a simple but searching question: "Who is my neighbour?" The answer? Anyone who needs you.

Goodness is love in action. It's not just feeling kind, it's doing something about it. The Samaritan didn't just feel sorry for the injured man; he got his hands dirty and gave generously of his time and money. That's the kind of goodness Paul writes about in Galatians 5:22 — a fruit that grows in us as we follow God's Spirit.

Goodness at school might look like sitting with someone who's alone at lunch, speaking up when someone is being treated unfairly, or simply helping a classmate who's struggling, even when it's inconvenient.

This week's challenge: Look for one person around you who needs a "Good Samaritan moment." Don't walk past. Stop. Help. That is goodness — and that is a life that reflects Christ.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for walking with us and we pray that you continue to grow goodness in us through your Spirit. Amen.

Blessings!

Will Wallace

Principal