The Goodness Of God
By Didi Henning
Think about your favourite fruit, the feeling of taking a bite out of it. Imagine all the juiciness and taste!
God has his fingerprint all over the world.
Look at the magnificent sunsets and sunrises, a flower blooming, and a plant growing. We have a lot of diversity here where I live. If I take a walk in the nature reserve, I find a wide variety of plants and animals. I want us to see people through God’s lens of goodness. But unfortunately, the world is quick to hold its norm in front of us.
God created us as humans, men, and women, and He said we are very GOOD.
Do we embrace that variety, or do we long to fit perfectly into the image that the world portrays for us? Do we embrace God’s words over us that we are well made?
All of God’s Word is dotted with the phrases - 'Good' and 'Goodness'.
The Bible defines God’s goodness in two ways. One has to do with His character and has a moral value. And the other focuses on His actions.
Ps 119:68 captures both when it says of God: ‘You are good, and you do what is good.”
I think the relationship between good and evil is the same concept as darkness which is the absence of light. None of the ying-yang philosophy. God is 100% good.
Cindy Smith teaches us in the book Thrive that the definition of the word good is righteousness, purity, and holiness. I want to additionally include the words morally excellent, extraordinarily beautiful, deeply glad, and extravagantly bountiful.
We build our trust and our faith in the fact that God is good. Therefore, in Ps 145, He invites us to meditate on His Goodness.
Jesus teaches us in the parable in Matthew 7:24-27 that the wise build his house on the rock, and when the storms come, the house will stand.
The goodness of God is a firm foundation that we build our lives on. A favourite saying is: “Food is packed with goodness.” That is the picture of God’s character. He is packed with goodness. He is inviting me and you to come and enjoy His goodness.
“I am enough” were the words I heard in my inner man last year when doing THRIVE. I meditated on 2 Corinthians 9:8NLV. “God can give you all you need. He will give you more than enough. You will have everything you need for yourselves. And you will have enough left over to give when there is a need.”
I was surprised that my thoughts towards my brother changed. I was not as envious anymore of him, as I used to be. We as Christ-followers can only reflect His character by being transformed into His image with the help of the Holy Spirit.
I want you to think of a difficult situation that you are going through. Let the goodness of God bubble through those thoughts. Then, you can use Ps 145 to direct you and God promises.
Romans 8:28 Amp, "And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purposes."
Tips for cultivating the goodness of God in your life:
Look at God’s beautiful creation
Think of acts of the kindness of people towards you
Bring into remembrance answered prayers
Think of God’s goodness towards you, especially what He did for you on the cross.
Listen and sing worship songs on God’s goodness
Awareness that God’s goodness and mercy are following you where ever you go
Keep a gratitude journal.
How are you reflecting the goodness of God?
Paul is encouraging us in Gal 6:9 to keep doing good because we will reap the reward.
Think on EPHESIANS 2:10 KJ21 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath beforehand ordained, that we should walk in them.", where Paul states that we are called to do the good works that God has prepared for us.
The path is set for us; we come as we are and be partakers and co-workers on this journey with the Holy Spirit.
In the comment section below, add your take on the goodness of God and how it inspires you to show goodness to others.