DO NOT BE AFRAID - GOD IS GOOD

Part Two of Taste and See that God is Good.

One of my mentors frequently asked this question- 

“Is God a loving God because He does loving things; or- Is God a loving God because the things He does are loving?”

If you answer “yes” to the first question, you may find that you struggle in your relationship with God when hard and “unloving” things happen in your life. 

In exploring the goodness of God, we must understand that it is within His character to be good. It’s the very essence of who God is.  Unlike man or woman, God cannot be anything other than Who He is. Remember when Moses said (paraphrase here) “Look, I need a name. If I’m going to go lead these people- I’ve got to have a name!”  

God reptiles “I. Am.”

In part one, I shared how God revealed His goodness to Moses.  God is truly good all the time. He brings good out of horrendous circumstances everyday. If you long to continue to have the Lord mold and shape you, you need to develop a Biblical understanding  of His goodness. God is always in control. Yes,  He limits aspects of His sovereignty to mankind. We live in a fallen world and sinful choices have repercussions. From random shootings, to racism, to climate change, to homelessness, to wealth and poverty. He sees it all. And He is not some grand puppeteer. He IS the great I AM. 

He is the Master Designer and in His amazing goodness and wisdom - He is able to weave our choices, and the choices of those around us into GOOD! 

Paul an apostle of the New Testament had been a man named Saul and known throughout Jerusalem and the new Christian community as a murderer of those who followed a Christ. He was to be feared. Jesus revealed Himself to him and gave him the name Paul. He wrote the following words in  Roman’s 8:28

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."  ESV

Think about this for a minute- Paul carried the knowledge that he was responsible  for the deaths of hundreds if not thousands of people. And he writes that all things work together. 

See, some of us read that verse and think Gods causes all things- we have to read the WHOLE phrase- God causes all things to work together for good.

So in a few days, we are having a very historic election. Fear is rising on both sides of the political aisle. My heart is torn by the divisiveness. Like you, I hold certain opinions and if I'm completely honest, I have had some fear of what may happen if "the other side" wins. As I have continued to meditate on God's goodness - I am beginning to see that my fear is unfounded. This is a "big picture" moment. No matter who wins - God is at work. If you're reading this, you voted according to your moral values and beliefs. That's exactly how this system works. If you believe (trust in, adhere to and rely on) God - we do not need to be afraid. We need to look to His Goodness. When we are brokenhearted, we need to look to His goodness. When we are blessed, we need to look to His Goodness.  

People, we do not need to be afraid that God's will is not going to be accomplished. There are so many, many things at work here and I am not going to turn this blog into that kind of debate. I want to encourage you - no matter where you stand - to re focus on the Goodness of God and His great and precious promises. 

And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’  Jeremiah 32:40-41

This scripture points to the heart of God FOR his people. 

1 Peter 1:3-5 shares so many profound truths that should cause us to be filled to overflowing with JOY -  

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Trusting in the goodness of God brings us a living hope!  Read that last night - WE ARE BEING KEPT BY GOD'S POWER - that word power is the same word used for the power it took to raise Jesus from the dead. We are being kept by God's good and great power. 

I encourage us all - to think about this next verse if "our side" doesn't win: 

In this you rejoice,(rejoicing in the previous verses)  though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

If we are on the "losing side" we must rejoice that we've been chosen to honor the Lord in a way that will bring glory to Him.  People- we have the opportunity to be ready to SHOW the good news of eternal hope! Our actions of acceptance and trusting God will speak louder than any divisive words of condemnation. If we are really so very concerned about God's Kingdom on earth, then we need to respond like Kingdom Citizens. With love, not judgement. ESPECIALLY TOWARD BELIEVERS as well as those who don't know the Lord. 

1 Peter Chapter 2 discussed the need to submit to authority. He even says to 'honor the emperor" 

Peter had seen his shared of Emperors and persecution. Two that come to mind are: Claudius - he  expelled all Jews out of Rome; and Nero who executed thousands of Christians in the Coliseum. Peter met his death during this time. 

We've been given serious instructions about responding to leadership - even ungodly leadership by those who knew what suffering and persecution were about. 

1 Timothy 2: 1-4

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

So let's return to the initial question -

“Is God a loving God because He does loving things; or- Is God a loving God because the things He does are loving?”

He will always do loving things for us and just like any good Father, sometime those things many not look loving - but we can always trust his goodness. 

So, this Tuesday - "winner" or "loser" - take it to the Lord in all of His Goodness. Let's respond in a way that truly brings Honor to Christ. Let our testimony be about the Goodness of God. 

Psalm 73:28

But as for me, God’s presence is my good.

I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,

so I can tell about all you do.