Sermon Reflections from Good God, Great Father | Alex Hardt | Feb. 23, 2025
Pastor Alex raises the eternal question about God in his sermon this week, Is God good? How you answer that question determines how you see God, yourself and all that happens around you. It is critical as if you do not see God as good it means He can be whimsical, subject to change, mean or cruel to you with or without provocation. It means He does not have your best interests at heart. This leads to doubt and mistrust of God. So to settle this, how can we know that God is good? Scripture is filled with information for us about the goodness of God-----let’s take a look.
In Luke 18:19 Jesus was questioned by the rich young ruler about calling him good. “And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Only God is good in all things and without sin. Psalm 33:5 “He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” Psalm 107:9 “For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” The ultimate goodness of God was shown in Jesus, Titus 3:4 “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared.” The goodness of God is filled with justice, mercy, love, righteousness and good things to satisfy our souls.
God shows us His goodness every day. Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” We do not need to worry about His mercy towards us ending. He is eternal and so is His love and goodness. He loves us enough to instruct us. Psalm 25:8 “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.” If God did not love us and want what is best for us he would not bother to instruct us and guide us!
Many worry that God will change his mind about us. You know, decide later after we know him that he does not want us anymore. Part of God’s character is that he is immutable, or unchanging. Numbers 23:19 “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” I particularly love Psalm 33:11 “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generation” and James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” The clincher in this is Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We can count upon God to love us, forgive us, have mercy upon us which is always in line with his eternal character that does not change! Praise God!
Knowing that God is good, we can count upon Him eternally and trust in His plans for us. Jeremiah 29:11-13 “ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” We can be assured that His plans are for our good and will be filled with hope. We can rely upon Him and seek Him with blessed assurance of hope and peace knowing He has the best for us. I particularly find comfort in the promise in Isaiah 49:16 “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.” God has my back and knows me personally.
Lastly, I want to encourage you that God is eternal, loving and will never leave you, ever! Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” We are to be brave and trust in Him! God keeps His promises and this is one we can claim and depend upon!
What does God want in return? For us to love Him with all our heart mind and soul. Matthew 22:37-39” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” He wants us to love Him and show His love towards others. This may sound overwhelming but remember Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” God is good and will love us and guide us into the life He has for us. Trust Him!
Linda
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