God is... good. 08/13/2010
 
"For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." Psalm 100:5

"He is the Rock. His ways are perfect; for all His ways are justice. A God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He." Deuteronomy 32:4

What is good? We use it to describe food ("oh, this is so good!"), people ("she is such a good person!"), movies (did you see that one? It is so good!") and more. We use it to describe so much, in fact, that it has lost a lot of value. Merriam-Webster defines it as:
1. A favorable character or tendency
2. Virtuous, right, commendable
3. Close (a good friend)

It is taken from the Hebrew word "towb" meaning "beautiful, best, better, bountiful, graciously, joyfully, kindly, lovIng" and more- it is used to describe all of those things!

God is good. That means God has a favorable character; is virtuous, right, commendable; is close, like a good friend. He is beautiful, the best, bountiful, gracious, joyful, kind, loving. Doesn't that sound like Someone you would want to spend a lot of time with, Someone you would want with you? It does to me! It sounds exactly like the kind of friends I would love to surround myself with, and the kind of friend I would like to be.

God gets a pretty bad rep sometimes. The "angry" God, the "vindictive" God, the "hellfire and brimstone" God, the "God who doesn't want me to have any fun". I don't see any of those descriptions being listed among the definitions of "good"!  The truth is that God IS good. That's what His word says. His ways are not our ways ("My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord.'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9) , and we don't often know exactly why He works out things the way He does ("And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28), but He is not an angry, vindictive, mean-spirited God who watches our lives from afar. He is good! He loves us! He is our close friend, who wants to give to us bountifully and seek the best for us in all things. He is kind and merciful and stable. He is good. "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good- His love endures forever!" Psalms 136:1, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 118:1, Psalm 107:1, 1 Chronicles 16:34, 2 Chronicles 5:13, Jeremiah 33:11.

The world is in chaos. People-even Christians (or especially Christians)- let you down all the time. The economy stinks. All of the evening news is bad. We're a mess. But God? God is good.
 


Comments

shannon

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 19:54:07

Thank you for this! God just spoke to me through these words!!
God bless you!!!

 



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