Many days I find myself quietly singing a portion of Chris Tomlin’s song, “You’re a good good father. It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are. And I’m loved by you. It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am.” The tune is pretty catchy but the words are so deep.
In fact this morning as I was praising God for being a good God, I had this beautiful picture rise up in my mind. We all should have a proper fear of God. Normally when we are afraid of someone we turn and run away. Yet this moving image that froze in my attention was that of me in my fear of God running toward Him as fast as I could. Why? Because He is a good, good Father. He is for me and not against me (Jeremiah 32:37-41). It’s like the antiphonal truth: “God is good.” “All the time” “And all the time” “God is good”. He is good and He is my Father. I’ve been born spiritually into His family because of what God the Son did for me on the cross. As His son I have continual access to His presence. Never have I been invited into the oval office in Washington, DC, but I have 24/7 access to the throne room of God. Though God is managing a universe, orchestrating things for 7+ billion people, He will always receive me into His presence. He is my Father and He treats me with goodness.
When our two sons were small we wanted them to learn how to say their own prayers, even at meal times – not just memorize some short prayer to pray all the time and find it easy to do it without much thought. Yet I did teach them to pray on occasion, “God is good and God is great.” because I wanted them to realize the tremendous truth in those words. He is good and He is great!
Pause and reflect on God’s goodness in your life:
- You received life from Him – you weren’t aborted – “.everything God created is good.” (1 Timothy 4:4)
- Long before you needed saving God sent His only Son to die for your sins – WOW, just envision Jesus on the cross for you – see your sins written out and nailed above His head – imagine what it was like for Him to receive God’s full wrath for your rebellion and wickedness. Can you doubt His goodness?
- Before you knew of your need of God’s forgiveness the Holy Spirit came calling you to God.
- He is working all things in a Christian’s life for his and her good (Romans 8:28)
- God specializes in giving good gifts (James 1:17; Matthew 7:11) and we’ve been overwhelmed by His gifts. I think of the Gaither song, “If He keeps on blessing and blessing If he keeps on pouring it on If His love just keeps on getting richer If He keeps on giving a song If my cup gets fuller and fuller If my prayers keep on getting through If it keeps getting better and better Oh Lord, I don’t know what I’m gonna do”
- You are loved by God – it’s who you are – You are loved no matter what you’ve done, because God is love and out of the goodness of His nature He showers your life with that love. Your worth is found in His good, good love – it’s who you are, the one God loves.
The apostle Paul says, “I know that nothing good lives in me” (Romans 7:18). Our sinful nature leaves us with everyone else where “there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12). Ah, but because of Jesus, Paul could say, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Philippians 1:6). We can become like our good, good Father. And His promise to us is, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:10). So maybe one day you and I might hear the Father say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
God treats us with abundant goodness. What good am I treating Him with? How can I today reflect His goodness back to the One who is a good, good Father?
Pastor Steve