Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth" (Eph. 5:9, NKJV). In this verse, Paul repeats the reference to "goodness" while he adds righteousness and truth. This week we look at what this "righteousness" is.

Like other fruit of the Spirit, self-control is a gift of grace. It has been called "disciplined grace": grace because it is free, disciplined because there is something for us to do.

What is meekness? It's an attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward people—when we recognize that God is in control and that we can trust Him, even when things don't go the way we would like, which is so often the case (is it not?). To be meek one needs confidence, not in oneself but in the Lord.

The fruit of the Spirit known as "faithfulness" could also be called "fidelity." It speaks of endurance, a firmness of purpose, especially when the going is tough.

In Scripture, “goodness” involves not only exhibiting right behavior but also avoiding its opposite, evil. Goodness is holiness put into practice. Goodness is what we do; otherwise, it’s not “goodness” at all.

Kindness is not beyond the reach of any, although it may take the sacrifice of time and energy. Kindness is a verb that reveals itself in numerous ways. And like its close cousin "love," kindness contains incredible power; it is a witness in and of itself of what our God is like.