Monday
Believe In The Goodness of God
Read Exodus 33:14-23
We must be convinced of His goodness before we can have a faith relationship with God. The goodness of God is the life of the believer's trust. But how are we convinced? We do not have to go far to learn of, hear of and see His goodness. 1st we must look around us even in the midst of all that seems bad in this world, there is good there is much good. 2nd we have to go no further than His word, His word tells what and how He feels about us and His promises to us are found in His Word. He has big plans for us and when we grasp hold of and trust Him. His plans will be fulfilled in our lives as we daily make a fresh commitment to, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Some may ask, how can I see "all things" work for my good? Or, how can my path be made straight so that I’m not constantly going down dead end roads with jobs, relationships, investments and more. The answer is found in the same verses that give these great promises. We are to:
• Love God
• Walk, talk, and think in the calling of His purpose (what God’s Word says)
• Lean not on our own understanding
• In all our ways acknowledge Him
By doing these four things you will find the power of God released into your life. You will also find that no matter what may be happening in the world God’s love for you is strong enough to make "all things" work out for the good." As you love God with all your heart, soul and strength you will find that His favor and grace are manifested in your life. You will find that you are, by His grace, always in the right place at the right time. You will find that He will move on people’s hearts to do things for you that you never expected. In the midst of circumstances that are going on in the world and in your personal life, you will be able to say, "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." (Psalm 27:13) Notice, the words, "I will see." He knew that it would happen, there was no doubt in the goodness of God. He knew that "all things" were going to be worked out for his good… "in the land of the living."
It is this Excellency in God which most appeals to our hearts. Because His goodness endures forever, we ought never to be discouraged: 'The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and He knows them that trust in Him' (Nahum 1:7).
Tuesday
Doubt: The Faith Killer
Read Galatians 3:1-5
I think my doubting the goodness of God reveals my own sinfulness more than anything else.
At some level, my sub-conscious definition of good is to be stable, have everything I think I need: good health, friends around me, food on the table always, extra money in the bank, etc… basically have nothing bad happen: no leaving friends, no pain in life, perfect health… Of course these things are good!
But to doubt God’s goodness when I don’t have these things… Is my definition of goodness so limited? What makes me so special that I should think I am somehow entitled to exemption from the effects of sin in the world and in my own life? Is God so small that he is not able to take what is definitely not good and bring out of it something even better? God is able to make all things work together for good for those who love him. It’s the cherished promise from Rom 8:28 for almost every believer. I’ve seen it at work in my own life. Every day I see more and more clearly how from the mistakes, pains, and sorrows of the previous year’s God is bringing good. Why do I still doubt?
George Mueller once said that if God were to take something good from him, it would only be to give him something better. The difficulty in believing in a sovereign almighty God is you have to believe he can allow these bad things to happen and even worse! But it’s equally true that he can use these awful things to bring goodness beyond anything imaginable! Yet somehow, it’s easier to believe and be afraid of the former than have faith and find joy in the latter.
Oh how small is my faith!! Doubt is a faith killer we must become like father of the sick girl and when times seem bleak and there seems to be no way out we must cry out “Lord, help my unbelief!”
Wednesday
Look For God’s Goodness
Read Psalms 27:13-14; 33:5, 149:5
Truly, 'The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD' (Psa 33:5). The goodness of God can be seen in the variety of natural pleasures, which he has provided for his creatures. God might have been content to satisfy your hunger without the food being very tasty. Can you imagine life without chocolate, peanut butter, fruits, vegetables, and tacos? He didn’t just give us senses, but he gave us things that gratify them; and this also reveals his goodness. The earth might have been as fertile as it is without its surface being so delightfully variegated. Our physical lives could have been sustained without beautiful flowers to regale our eyes with their colors, and our nostrils with their sweet perfumes. We might have walked the fields without our ears being saluted by the music the birds. Whence, then, this loveliness, this charm, so freely diffused over the face of nature? Why isn’t it? Where do all the extras come from? “The tender mercies of the Lord are all over his works.”
Have you taken the time to look for God’s goodness? It is all around take the time to enjoy His goodness.
Thursday
God’s Goodness Met Justice
Read Exodus 34:5-7
God’s goodness met justice when Adam and Eve sinned, and every human being for that matter thereafter sinned, God didn’t place a judgment of wrath on us right away. He could have destroyed all mankind, but he didn’t he chose to save us from ourselves. Although we disappointed Him and still do every day He continues to love us and He continues to want the very best for us. If He did not why then did He offer up His Son as a sacrifice for us? I think John 3:16 pretty much sums it all up for us: This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted! (The Message)
Goodness of God is definition as a perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations. Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favor on the unworthy it is grace. "Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes merciful and sometimes just, but he is eternally infinitely just and merciful." God is infinitely and unchangeably good (Zeph. 3:17), and his goodness is incomprehensible by the finite mind (Rom. 11: 35, 36). "God's goodness appears in two things, giving and forgiving."
Friday
Rejoice In His Goodness
Read 2 Chronicles 6:41; Psalms 107:8; Romans 8:28
'Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!' (Psalms 107:8). Gratitude is the return justly required from the objects of His beneficence, yet is it often withheld from our great Benefactor simply because His goodness is so constant and so abundant. You are more than a conqueror! You are part of Christ's Body. God is for you, who can be against you! God’s heart is full of good for you, right now, in the land of the living! Let this verse from God's Word drown out all the voices of the world... "all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." God’s desire is for you is always good. He responds to your love by pouring out His goodness into your life.
So rejoice! Rejoice that you have a heavenly Father that loves you so much that He has made such great promises to take care of you. Rejoice that God’s love and goodness is for you! Rejoice that "all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Rejoice that "He is making your paths straight." Rejoice that you will, "See the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."
God loves you and He is for you!
Saturday
Reflecting God’s Goodness
Exodus 34:29-32; Matthew 5:14-16
When you wake up each morning to the sweet melodies of birds, how do you feel? When you admire the spectacular spectrum of sunsets, are you awed? When sunlight warms your skin and gentle summer breezes softly kiss you, are you not delighted? Do you not enjoy the fragrance of wildflowers, the sound of ocean waves splashing, the chirps of crickets at night, and the claps of thunders during a heavy storm? How do all the elements of life reflect the Creator of life? Think about it carefully: "there is no good tree that brings forth rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that brings forth good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don't gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil"
Everything in life is made to be enjoyed by all of our senses, do you not agree? Creations are not only enjoyable, but they also provide for our physical nourishment as well. The Earth produces all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and grains to keep us well-fed and satisfied. So what does this tell us about the Creator of life? Can we not rightfully conclude that our Creator is purely good? Being made in the image of our Creator, we have the capacity to reflect the goodness of our Heavenly Father, just as we have the ability to be happy and sad, disappointed and content, angry and pleased, as He.
How do you personally reflect the goodness of God? Do you lend a helping hand whenever you can? Do you treat everyone with equality? Are you happy when you hear of people doing good, and upset when you hear of injustice?
Do you want to be like your Heavenly Father and reflect His pure goodness, then you must be grafted onto Jesus.
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