God's Good Pleasure

Read Ephesians 1:9-12, Proverbs 8:32-36

  .. "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

     It is sometimes hard to believe in the absolute goodness of God.  Many people stumble and fall away when God allows what we perceive bad things to happen, especially when they happen to good people.

    God's goodness is displayed throughout nature, through His help in times of trouble, and through Jesus.  That God would bring His goodness to the earth in His Son and suffer and die for us is the greatest of all manifestations of His goodness.

     When we receive by faith the grace to believe in our hearts that God is good, and "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28) we can really begin to live life celebrating the goodness of God and that He is in the process of conforming us into the image of Christ.

     Although our salvation is instant the hour we first believe, holy transformation into the image of Christ is the life long process through which the Holy Spirit inspects, corrects, and grows us into spiritual maturity.

     When we go through life secure in our faith in the goodness of God and the belief that "no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly" (Psalm 84:11) We can live lives filled with great joy and joyful anticipation in spite of any -pain or suffering we may have to endure as part of the process.

     This is why we can rejoice through our pain and suffering and be filled with the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding.

   Father, keep me ever mindful of Your goodness and Your good plans for me.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

"When you find me, you find life, real life, to say nothing of God's good pleasure." Proverbs 8:35

"having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to

Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" Ephesians 1:9,