Friday, August 4,
2023
(A
wonderful ministry memory)
Gal 5:22-23
22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith,
23 Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law.
Ps 23:6
6 Surely goodness
and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell
in the house of the Lord for ever.
I once had the privilege of
giving the invocation at the LVN pinning ceremony for our local community college.
Fifteen new nurses proudly wore a new silver pin. One lady was my own age and
no longer young. She received the “persistence” award because she overcame the
obstacle of age to pursue a goal that would allow her to be more useful on medical
mission trips.
Goodness
gracious! We say it all the time as a by-word but what
are the qualities associated with those two words? Well, “goodness” in the Old
Testament is the Hebrew word towb (tobe) and it means “beautiful,
better, best, and bountiful.” I suppose it is best understood when it is placed
beside the word bad or badness.
Can
irreligious people be and do good? Adam Clarke says that goodness is “The
perpetual desire and sincere study, not only to abstain from every appearance of
evil, but to do good to the bodies and souls of men to the utmost of our ability.
But all this must spring from a good heart-a heart purified by the Spirit of
God.” Jesus said: “A good tree
cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.”
Matt 7:18
The
word “gracious” in the Hebrew is chanan and means “to bend
or stoop in kindness to an inferior.” This is what God does for us time and
again. He is good and His mercy endures forever. We who are His children draw from
His goodness and minister mercy to the less fortunate.
Num 6:24-26
24 The Lord
bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The Lord
make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The Lord
lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Dear
Lord, I am not good. Any goodness or grace in me comes from Thee. Thank you for
allowing me to be an instrument of Thy grace. AMEN
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