Hi Everyone,
I believe that when we either don't know about God's goodness or have forgotten it, we lose flat-out. If I were to ask someone why they refuse to believe that God is good, I imagine the most basic response would include lists of unhappy and unfortunate situations in their life. Because of trials and hardships we question not only God's goodness, placing the blame on Him, but some even go so far as to doubt His existence. And even for those who believe He exists, sometimes the question is not "can He help?", but rather "will He help?".
So we go to His Word:
Psalm 145:15-17 says: "The eyes of all wait for You and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor. The Lord is rigidly righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works."
We have difficulty believing that God is good and gracious to us. We have difficulty believing that He will give us what we need. Even more importantly, we sometimes fail to recognize that what we need comes from Him because we have favor with Him. We don't look to Him; we rely on our own abilities. We do not know that God is rigidly righteous, gracious and merciful. This ferocious faithfulness toward us is unrelenting. It covers not only our salvation, our need for righteousness at all times, but also our need for provision in life. I describe it to one friend as "fierce loyalty". I refuse to accept anything less that than from God.
A.W. Tozer puts it this way: "The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted and quick of sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes total pleasure in the happiness of His people".
So by now you may be asking the following question: "If God is so good, then what can I do to merit His goodness in my life?"
Well, I can tell you three things that will NOT work: repentance, prayer, and faith.
Before you close this email in fear of heresy, consider the following: None of these obligate God to move on your behalf. He is not impressed with how well you are able to repent, pray, and believe in faith. He doesn't hear you because you have done good deeds or prayed for three weeks straight. He doesn't answer you because you've filled out the proper forms, crossed your Ts and dotted your Is. Even your faith can be worthless if it is placed in the wrong thing. God is good to us for one reason only: it is fully within His nature to do so. True faith, then, is a confidence in His goodness, not a formula we have in our faith.
So how do we respond to the truth of His goodness and graciousness? It's easy: 1. Realize that your pre-conception of God was a misconception--that you did not believe He was good and change your opinion. 2. Rest and place your confidence in His goodness and care. 3. Risk: what would be possible in life if it really was true that God was 100% for you and your welfare. Would you see Him as the source of all your needs? How would you represent Him to a world in need?
Consider the following passages:
I believe that when we either don't know about God's goodness or have forgotten it, we lose flat-out. If I were to ask someone why they refuse to believe that God is good, I imagine the most basic response would include lists of unhappy and unfortunate situations in their life. Because of trials and hardships we question not only God's goodness, placing the blame on Him, but some even go so far as to doubt His existence. And even for those who believe He exists, sometimes the question is not "can He help?", but rather "will He help?".
So we go to His Word:
Psalm 145:15-17 says: "The eyes of all wait for You and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor. The Lord is rigidly righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works."
We have difficulty believing that God is good and gracious to us. We have difficulty believing that He will give us what we need. Even more importantly, we sometimes fail to recognize that what we need comes from Him because we have favor with Him. We don't look to Him; we rely on our own abilities. We do not know that God is rigidly righteous, gracious and merciful. This ferocious faithfulness toward us is unrelenting. It covers not only our salvation, our need for righteousness at all times, but also our need for provision in life. I describe it to one friend as "fierce loyalty". I refuse to accept anything less that than from God.
A.W. Tozer puts it this way: "The goodness of God is that which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted and quick of sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes total pleasure in the happiness of His people".
So by now you may be asking the following question: "If God is so good, then what can I do to merit His goodness in my life?"
Well, I can tell you three things that will NOT work: repentance, prayer, and faith.
Before you close this email in fear of heresy, consider the following: None of these obligate God to move on your behalf. He is not impressed with how well you are able to repent, pray, and believe in faith. He doesn't hear you because you have done good deeds or prayed for three weeks straight. He doesn't answer you because you've filled out the proper forms, crossed your Ts and dotted your Is. Even your faith can be worthless if it is placed in the wrong thing. God is good to us for one reason only: it is fully within His nature to do so. True faith, then, is a confidence in His goodness, not a formula we have in our faith.
So how do we respond to the truth of His goodness and graciousness? It's easy: 1. Realize that your pre-conception of God was a misconception--that you did not believe He was good and change your opinion. 2. Rest and place your confidence in His goodness and care. 3. Risk: what would be possible in life if it really was true that God was 100% for you and your welfare. Would you see Him as the source of all your needs? How would you represent Him to a world in need?
Consider the following passages:
"But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day," says the Lord. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people....And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins." Jeremiah 31:33-34
"Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken," says the Lord, who has mercy on you." Isaiah 54:9-10
Grace=Peace,
Jeremy
"Just as I swore in the time of Noah that I would never again let a flood cover the earth, so now I swear that I will never again be angry and punish you. For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken," says the Lord, who has mercy on you." Isaiah 54:9-10
Grace=Peace,
Jeremy
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