God is Good

Our sermon Sunday was a powerful reminder of God's goodness. 

We sing about it and we say it often. But do we fully understand this attribute of God?  The Bible defines God's goodness in two ways. One has to do with His character; the other focuses on His actions. Ps. 119:68 captures both when it says of God: "You are good and You do what is good . . . " God is the original definition of good. He is good in and of Himself.  How do you see the true character of a person? By his actions. the Bible is full with descriptions that point to His kindness, His mercy, His steadfast love, His generosity. 

There are three specific channels God uses to broadcast His goodness to us.

 Natural blessings

This is the lowest level at which He expresses His goodness and the one we tend to overlook or take for granted.

Kind interventions

God comes to the rescue of people who are frantically searching for something or someone that will satisfy their soul. When they cry out to the Lord, He will deliver them and their soul will find its true home.

God rescues those pounded by calamity. When the storms threaten to sink us and we're at our wit's end, we can call to Him and see Him command the storms to be still, because He is good.

Through God's Son, Jesus

Romans 5:8 says, "God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!" God's extravagance flowed to us in the amazing substitution of His Son in our place on the cross. His death for us is the undisputed picture of unmerited goodness. 

 Respond to God's goodness?

The goodness of God calls for a response. 

A. Repent of unbelief and ingratitude

B. Rest in His goodness when adversity comes

C. Step out in faith

When you believe that God is good all the time, it frees you to take ever-increasing steps of faith.