Do Good Things Come From Amazon, or Where?
Do you enjoy a fresh ripe peach or a mango? How about T-bone steak or farm-fresh corn-on-the-cob or chocolate? Do you love to hear a baby gurgle and laugh? Do you celebrate a mother’s love?
Where do all these good things come from? “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow cast by turning” (James 1:17). “The earth is full of his goodness” (Ps.33:5). Every morning and evening we should lift our voice in thanksgiving to our Good God.
In my blogs about the attributes of God, I’ve come to his goodness. So far, we’ve considered that God is infinite, eternal and unchangeable in his wisdom, power, holiness, justice and truth. David describes God’s goodness; “the LORD is
gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made” (Psalm 145:8,9). God’s goodness can be broken down into five qualities:
First, consider his universal kindness to everyone. “God causes his sun to shine on the righteous and the unrighteous, his rain to fall on good and bad” (Matt. 5:45). His sunshine warms everyone. His rain waters the farms of the good and the evil. God is the source of anything that is good in this world. The gifts of family love and friendship, the foods we enjoy and the talents and skills he bestows on all.
Even in the poorest and most desolate places he demonstrates his goodness. When we were missionaries in Pakistan, we would visit the villages of subsistence farmers on the edge of the Rajasthan desert. There we would see children laughing and playing, the love of husbands and wives, the enjoyment of
a simple meal of curried new potatoes where meat could not be afforded. We might have the king of fruits, mangoes, for dessert.
Evil and injustice occurs everywhere due to the free choices of fallen sinners. Jesus experienced it in the jealousy and hatred of the Pharisees who ultimately handed him over to death. But shortly after listening to their criticism again, Jesus looked at the gathered crowd and said, “I have compassion on these people.” His love was indiscriminate for both wicked plotters and disciples; for Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, tax -collectors and harlots.
“Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8). “The earth is full of his unfailing love” (Psalm 33:5). Are we moaning and groaning? Do we feel sorry for ourselves? Let’s pause and take inventory and offer thanksgiving to God for all his good gifts.
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g, please pass it on. Further articles, books, and stories at my website: http://www.countrywindow.ca Facebook: Eric E Wright ;Twitter: @EricEWright1 ;LinkedIn: Eric Wright ––)
