Gifts From God: Devotions From Time of GraceNäide

The Gift of God Himself: God’s goodness

"Goodness" is a funny word, isn’t it? We use it all the time without really meaning it. “Oh, my goodness,” we’ll say. “Thank goodness.” Think for a minute how much we depend on and luxuriate in the fact that our God is full of goodness.

Our frequently guilty consciences make us afraid that our first meeting with God will be dreadful because he will be so angry. Surely he must despise us because he is lofty and we are so low, because he is so pure and we are so polluted. Here is one of Jesus Christ’s main goals for his incarnation--to become an intense personal message from the Father that God is good, that he really likes people and is exerting huge resources to make our lives better. Look what Jesus did with the few short months he spent in public ministry: he eased people’s pain, cured their diseases, rescued their children, and reversed their funerals.

King David writes in Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed [are those] who take refuge in him.” You can trust his goodness. He likes you, you know.