ONE OF TWO THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND THIS YEAR
“The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Ps. 33:5). Here are two things to notice and remember in connection with this:
THE WORLD IS FULL OF GOOD PEOPLE. Of course, there are “none that doeth good, no not one” (Rom. 3:10) in the sense of a sinner being able to do anything to merit salvation. But there are a lot of people, probably all around you, who, like Cornelius (Acts 10:1, 2), fear God and are seeking God, but haven’t found their way to God through Jesus Christ yet; sincerely moral and kind people, who are considered, by others to be “good” people. People like this are nevertheless, “without Christ,” and therefore “without hope” (Eph. 2:12), waiting for our witness and help in finding the way of salvation.
Then, there are millions of genuine and good Christian people in this world; people who are saved and have had the righteousness of Christ imparted unto them, whose goodness is the fruit of the Spirit being manifested through them; Christians whose thought, talk and treatment of others is consistent with the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount (2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 5:22, 23; Matt. 5-7). These are those who take seriously our Lord’s command to and empowerment of them to “overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). Are you staying aware and appreciative of these good folks that God has put into your life?
THE WORLD IS FULL OF GOOD THINGS in evidence that “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” There are good, beautiful and interesting things here to look at in God’s creation, and good things for us to listen to. There are good things on this earth for us to eat and good things here to make our lives more comfortable and happy — all provided by “the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17). Our families, friends and the freedom we have as Americans are good things.
The fact that “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" is a good thing. The promise of salvation, entry into God’s family and an eternal home in heaven to everyone who will exercise “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” is a good thing (Acts 20:21). The fact that Salvation is the gift of God offered by the grace of God is a mighty good thing! (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8).
Keep your heads up and your eyes wide open every day this year to the good people and things that are in this world. This will help you. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).
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