For the LORD is good, and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5 (NIV)

This has been a hard month. After repeated trips to the hospital with heart issues and pneumonia, my father-in-law passed away. He was the fourth person I knew to die in a short time period. Others I care about are in the hospital or dealing with terrible situations.

God is Good.

It is God’s goodness that I cling to during trying times. People often ask how God can be good when things are difficult or when evil prevails. I can see that He is good when I take refuge in Him (Psalm 34:8). He is always there for me. When my heart breaks, He comforts me. His love endures not just when things are right, but even in the toughest circumstances. He is faithful.

Even before I was born, the Lord in His goodness acted on my behalf. He did not want sin to separate me or any of us from Him for all of eternity. Our Heavenly Father set into motion His plan for the redemption of mankind by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. It was His plan from the time of Adam and Eve, foretold through the Prophets and Scripture.

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:16 – 17 (NIV)

God’s justice demanded retribution for our sin. We cannot pay it. We cannot live a sinless life.

God’s love and mercy called for a way to rescue us. Only Jesus could rescue us by leaving His home in heaven, living a sinless life, and taking our punishment for sin on the cross. Jesus was beaten and killed for our redemption. He willingly gave His life for our good. He provided a way for us to be forgiven.

Jesus did not stay in the grave, but rose again the third day! He proved He was alive by appearing to Mary Magdelene and the other the women who went to the tomb (Matthew 28:8 -10; John 20:11 – 18), to the disciples (Luke 24:36 -45), to more than 500 believers at the same time, and to Paul at his conversion, as well as to others. (I Corinthians 15:3 – 8).

Jesus was, and is, the good and perfect gift for us. James tells us about the Father’s gifts:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we may be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17 – 18 (NIV)

*Thank God for his perfect gift. Thank Jesus for His sacrifice for you. If you have not received the gift of forgiveness and eternal life that God offers, won’t you do so today?

God is the source of goodness. He always does what is right and beneficial. Even when circumstances are hard, He works all things out for good (Romans 8:28)

God is the good teacher, as we are told in the Psalms.

Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he instructs sinner in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. Psalm 25:8 – 9 (NIV)

May we treasure the goodness of God, and seek to be good as His followers as we obey Him.

* Make a list of how God has been good to you, including those times that you did not recognize He was good until later. Thank Him for His goodness.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being good in all that You do. Every good and perfect gift comes from You (James 1:17). Help me to look to You when I question what is happening in my life, knowing that all things are sifted through Your loving hands. Amen.

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Scriptures marked NIV are taken from the NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV): Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™. Used by permission of Zondervan.

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