Tag: goodness of God

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The creation of the world

J. Randal Matheny

In Job 38—39, after all the speeches and accusations are made, God appears to the suffering patriarch, pins him to the wall, and peppers him with question after question about the creation of the world and how it is maintained. He makes clear several things about being Creator and Sustainer of the Universe:

1. God is sovereign

This was Job’s big lesson to learn. He was allowed to question God. Now he had to learn to trust God. He knew so little, and could do even less — we know so much more, after all, we are privy to the heavenly conversation between God and the devil in the beginning of the book. What has been revealed to us is clear, but how little we still know! The best scientists still haven’t figured out the nature of the universe. How much less we know of the universe’s Creator! Continue reading “The creation of the world”

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Give thanks

Michael Brooks

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! For his mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:1-2 NKJV).

When I first began traveling to Nepal almost 30 years ago I was told that, until recently, there had been no word for thank you in their language. After exposure to western vacationers following the opening of the country in the 1950s, someone coined the word dhanobhad to translate the English term “Thank you.”

Words express ideas or concepts and denote objects and actions familiar to those who speak a given language. If a society uses something, they generally have a word for it. Continue reading “Give thanks”

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Give thanks for goodness

Michael Brooks

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! For his mercy endures forever. . . . Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:1, 8-9 NKJV).

Among the innumerable attributes of God, one of the most emphasized in Scripture is his goodness. This is made evident from the beginning of creation. As God made the various parts of the universe we are repeatedly told, “And God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:10, 12, 18, 21, 25; see also verse 4). Finally after all was done, “Then God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). Continue reading “Give thanks for goodness”

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Many or few to be saved? Worry about your salvation!

J. Randal Matheny

Many folk love to discuss theology. Jesus, not so much. How many will be saved? Will they be few? That was apparently a popular discussion back in the day. So someone from the crowd asked Jesus to comment on it.

His reply? Let’s bring it home. First off, make sure you are saved. Makes no difference if there be many or few, if you’re not among them, now does it? That seems to be his approach in Luke 13.22-30. As it was a bit earlier in Luke 13.1-5. Unless you repent. Continue reading “Many or few to be saved? Worry about your salvation!”

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One Fixed Stake

J. Randal Matheny

Yet, in the maddening maze of things,
And tossed by storm and flood,
To one fixed stake my spirit clings;
I know that God is good.
—John Greenleaf Whittier, “The Eternal Goodness”

Life is a series of storms and squalls. Winds howl and waves toss us mercilessly. Dark clouds roil, lightening flashes in brilliant sheets, thunder shakes the very air. Our boat takes on water and seems ready to sink. Continue reading “One Fixed Stake”