“Do not try to do good. BE good.

“The only way you can BE good is through Me. ‘Good’ is according to My standards. ‘Good’ means holy. Blameless. Without guile. Filled with Love. Such is My Good. No one attains this without being washed clean in My Blood. ‘No one is good but God,’ I said to the young man who longed for salvation but could not give up his wealth. That was before the cross. My cross, stained with My Blood, now renders holiness, goodness, to those who accept Me and live according to My standards.

“Earthly ‘goodness’ is no good to Me.

“I do not call you to pursue goodness. It is a condition, a gift that results from pursuing ME. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control. These come through Me alone. Pursue them on your own and acquire none – according to My definition. Pursue Me and you will live them all.

“Goodness is not doing good works. Good works, a life of service to others, cannot of themselves purify you from sin. The strain of trying to be My Good without My salvation of your soul brings much burden, for it is unattainable. Goodness, as with all the fruit of My Spirit, is the natural condition of a life lived with Me. Pursue Me, and you have all. Pursue any of My fruit itself – and it shall remain ever out of your reach. Fruit does not grow of itself. It must first have seed. That Seed, that beginning, is ME. Always, Always, I AM your ANSWER. Life begins – and grows – with Me, the Creator of Life.

“Lay yourself on My altar, commit yourself completely to Me, say Yes to whatever I ask of you – and Goodness follows. I will ask of you whatever in your life you would place above Me. For the young man who asked for salvation long ago, it was his wealth. Earthly wealth often brings pursuit of earthly power. These are of no good to My Kingdom. Wealth of soul and spirit will save. A life of commitment to Me alone may bring wealth, but if so, the wealth is dedicated to Me and My Kingdom – and therefore will not destroy. Seek ME, and you can have all. Seek anything outside of full commitment to Me – and lose everything.

“I AM all you need. I AM your ALL. Seek Me – and LIVE.

“Amen.”
—–
Notes:

Mark 10:17-22: As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

Psalm 16:2: I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

Galatians 5:22-25: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Psalm 39:11: With reproofs You chasten a man for iniquity; You consume as a moth what is precious to him…

Proverbs 10:22: It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.

Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”