GOODNESS

I was standing on the sideline of a pick-up soccer game after subbing out so another player could reenter the game. It was a hot afternoon. My buddy, Dan, took his plastic water jug and poured it over my head. Unlike the unsuspecting football coach, doused with iced Gatorade after winning a cold winter game, this shower was reviving!

My wife took blueberries from our backyard and mixed them with a bread concoction that was mouth-wateringly delicious. She made two batches for me to take for my co-workers. It was a boost to their morale and they were thankful for her thoughtfulness.

Whether pouring cool water on a friend’s hot head, or taking the time to bake food for others, the effect of goodness is spirit-lifting. David, the contemplative-warrior-handsome-popular-lover of God was bothered by wicked people. He was so troubled that he asked God to shame them and silence their lying lips. But then, instead of dwelling on troublemakers, he turned to his great Friend and uttered the words below.

Meditation
Psalm 31:19—How great is Your goodness which You have stored up for those who fear you, which You bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in You.

David recalled the times God rescued and sustained him. His heart turned from distress to praising His Lord. So who dominates your thoughts—troublemakers or your mighty Father? Have you thought much lately of the goodness God stores up for you? It is so easy to fixate on problems and enemies that we forget that God exercises goodness to us. First, He sustains and provides for us on earth when we trust in Him for our protection and respect His awesomeness. Second, some day in our great heaven homecoming, He will shower on us eternal goodness as a reward for our faithfulness in following Jesus. There is nothing on earth that comes even remotely close to the goodness God has in store for us. That’s certainly something to think about . . . in reveration!

Inspiration
I remember being taken one day to see a gorgeous palace at Venice, where every piece of furniture was made with most exquisite taste and of the richest material, where statues and pictures of enormous price abounded on all hands, and the floor of each room was paved with mosaics of marvelous art and extraordinary value . . . I was afraid to sit anywhere, nor did I hardly dare to put my foot down, or rest my hand to lean. Everything seemed to be too good for ordinary mortals like myself. But when one is introduced into the gorgeous palace of infinite goodness, costlier and fairer far, one gazes wonderingly with reverential awe at the matchless vision. “How excellent is your lovingkindness, Oh God! I am not worthy of the least of your benefits. Oh, the depths of the love and goodness of the Lord.”—Charles Haddon Spurgeon