There was a great leader of the body of Christ back in the 1800’s.  He was known for humility, and one of the comments that constantly came out of his mouth was–for instance, if you got to a door at the same time, he insisted on holding it.  He would say, “You first.  I’ll follow.”  That is a good attitude.  Am I right?  “You first.  I’ll follow.”

When we think about that as it relates to our availability to serve, to edify one another, it is not “me” and “mine first.”  We say, “You first.  I can take care of this other stuff later.  I am here to help you.  I am here to assist you.  I am always here for you.  You can call at any time.  Don’t be afraid of waking me up and hearing that I cannot answer because the children are in bed.”  Amen?  When a friend knocks, we will be there to answer.

Goodness.  Kindness.  We’ve shared those definitions and the fact that kindness and goodness mean “goodness of heart, of character.”  It is not just the fruit of a good heart.  It is the reality of a new heart, Christ in us, the hope of our glory.  We saw that it was an active desire to recognize and meet the needs of others.  We emphasized the word desire.  It is something that we should desire: to grow out of our self-indulgence and our selfishness.  It should be an active pursuit.  “Who can I help?  Where’s there a need?”  As that begins to manifest in us, we see the true edification of the body of Christ.

There is one statement about Jesus in Mark, Chapter 10.  We know that Jesus responded to the praise at that time.  The man said, “Good Master…”  “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God” (Mark 10:18).  Anything we do that is good is of God.  It is not of us.  We can never boast about ourselves.  We can never take credit for anything good coming through us because, in fact, it is coming through us and not originating in us.  “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18).  It is all done by the Spirit, by abiding in Him, and by His Word constantly cleansing and washing us.  Paul said in Timothy it is so that it might produce in us the glory of God.

Go to Galatians, Chapter 6.  There is a great phrase used in the tenth verse.  It says, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  The household of faith...  Jump quickly over to Ephesians, Chapter 2.  The household of faith…  “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).  Don’t you love that?  Habitation of God, the church is the habitation of God.