The Fruit of the Goodness: Indwelling and Expressing
In computer programming, there is a commonly held ideal for Trash In Trash Out. If a person inputs fair amount of of garbage and nonsensical commands, the program will simply shut down and return the garbage it has been given. But, if there is care and intentionality in stringing together the code, remarkable and beautiful programs spring out. Whatever input the programmer gives reveals itself through the program. Goodness, in the lives of the spirit-filled Christian, works similarly. Goodness comes from the overflow of goodness through us. Whatever we spend time engaging with and filling our hearts with will be the thing that pours out of our hearts. While it is certainly true that Christians are saved by faith instead of works, the works of a Christian display the fruit that comes from within a person. Mankind produces whatever has been seeded inside of it and reflects what we truly worship and not what we necessarily should worship. As Christians, we allow the Holy Spirit to move within us and through us to express the abundant goodness and righteousness of God in the public sphere. We stand for the good and the right because God is working through us and has redeemed our own personal unrighteousness for His glory.