Sunday Words of Encouragement July 1, 2018

We went to Panama City Beach this morning to join our daughter’s family for church. The 9:40 service is a contemporary service designed for the young people. The music was good, if loud.

The minister leader shared a sermon titled The Goodness of God. He noted that even from his days in seminary he learned that all people have different understandings about God. Some perceive God’s aloofness, majesty and anger. Human, distorted views create a problem in understandings by the world, church and among Christians.

God's acts do not sustain us.
God's ways do sustain us.
God revealed his Goodness to Moses with compassion. Exodus 33:19.
At the heart of God's goodness is generosity.
God gives us life, hope, and joy in His word. True happiness comes from peace.

When you pray, how do you see God? With his arms crossed?
Goodness is not what God possesses. It is who He is. God is not good to you because you are good, but because He is good.
Sometimes God’s goodness is shown by his discipline of us. “Do not despise the Lord’s discipline.” Proverbs 3:11-12.

There are benefits in recognizing God’s goodness. God is our sun and shield; an unlimited source and unlimited protection. Psalm 84:11.

How does God reveal His goodness to us?
He loves us. Psalm 145:9.
He delivers us from trouble. Psalm 107.
In lostness and loneliness. In bondage. In foolishness. In natural occurrences.

What is our proper response? Our response is thanks.
God’s plan for man was always redemption; from the very beginning. In perfect time He sent His son. God's goodness is revealed through his son; through the death and resurrection. Romans 5:6-8.

We sang this song in worship this morning and I think it works with the message.

Verses for Today:
Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Lord - I praise you and give you thanks continually for being so Good and loving to me, even when I don't deserve it. Help me to thank you each morning for the good You will do for me each day!