GOD’S GREAT GOODNESS

Raised to believe God is a punishing, vengeful, and angry Supreme Being, I was afraid of Him. That fear manifested as great reverence, respect, and awe of this Deity who determined how long I would suffer in Purgatory before I could get to Heaven.


SEEING GOD’S GOODNESS
As I came to know Jesus Christ as revealed in the Gospels, a different picture emerged. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). Finding progressively greater amounts of rest in the goodness of Christ, I now see God’s great goodness.


With the tremendous suffering in our world today, it is easy to miss the totality of God’s goodness. We must remember, “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations" (Psalm 100:5 NIV). Our generation seems more depraved than any before it, but God remains the safe place we can go for comfort and nurturing as our soul aches from seeing man’s total depravity against others. "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him" (Psalm 34:8 NIV). Yes, this daily quiet time with Christ is my refuge. This is where I experience God’s great goodness the most.


THANKING GOD FOR BEING GOOD TO US
Having an attitude of gratitude is essential for me to fully understand just how good God is. "The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made" (Psalm 145:9 NIV). I am so grateful that our Father in Heaven is not the God of my youth. I now know that "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love" (Psalm 145:8 NIV). Christ Jesus demonstrated His goodness and that of our Father countless times, so that we would not be able to miss the true goodness of God. "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick" (Matthew 14:14 NIV).


TRUSTING GOD
As we reflect on God’s absolute, total, never-ending goodness and love for us, we can rely on Him for everything. In short, we can trust Him in the good times and bad. In our joy and sorrow. In our triumphs and defeats. For “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him" (Nahum 1:7 NIV).
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Your aspiring servant, Daniel M.
February 23, 2024
POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ.