The Goodness of God
In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!1
One of the first truths a child learns in Sunday school is that God is good. The simplicity of these three words hides the depth of such a remarkable attribute of the Lord. He is perfect and holy, which means that He alone is the standard of all righteousness. And since the expression of the Heavenly Father's goodness is revealed in his actions, everything he does is good and right. After all, He cannot violate His own nature.
God does not change. His character, not our behavior, determines how he deals with us. As a loving Father, He corrects with discipline, which is designed to restore our relationship with Him.
The goodness of the Lord is expressed in many ways. He is our Creator. Every breath is given to us by God. As our loving Shepherd, He cares for us and provides for us. But the greatest expression of His goodness is the cross, where He lovingly bore our sin so that we could relate to Him.
Believing in God's goodness is essential to our faith. This truth fills us with joy in happy times and gives us confidence during difficult times. When we don't understand what the Lord is doing, we can trust that He is good.
Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness. Thank You for Your greatest expression of goodness that was on the cross. Although many times I do not understand the reason for every situation, I can trust that You are good and everything works for the good of those who love You. Thank you, in Jesus' name, Amen.
1. Psalms 34:6-8 (NTV).
Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.