Goodness of GodSample

God's goodness plays out in our lives

‘That was good!’ It’s something we say about a meal we enjoyed, or a movie we’ve read, or a book we’ve finished reading. It’s easy to forget exactly what ‘good’ really is and where it comes from.

As Arthur Pink points out, not only does God provide the meal we’ve eaten and enjoyed, but He has also given us the ability to enjoy it.

But God’s goodness goes beyond the physical. God is ultimately good. It’s fundamental to who He is and what He does. The psalmist declares: ‘You are good, and do good’ (Psalm 119:68a). But, here’s the catch. The psalmist points to the wisdom he’s gained through the good that’s come from his affliction.

If we look to the story of Joseph, we see how God’s goodness plays out. In Genesis 50:20 (NLT), Joseph tells his brothers: ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.’ The goodness of God proves out in the events of Joseph’s life. Joseph sees the good first. Yes, there was affliction, but God turned it around, through His goodness and through His amazing grace. God has worked things in our favour through Jesus, in whom God’s goodness is manifest. He’s a good, good God, and for that we should be thankful.

Written by CHRIS PARFOOT