Goodness….
Being
good when you are 5 years old is a burden…Will you be good? Be
good in school? Be good in church? Perhaps if someone had told me a
why to ‘be good’, I would have seen a purpose and it would have been
easier. Or how to be good. So, I passed on my mis-knowledge to my
children and ‘be-gooded’ them as they grew up.
good when you are 5 years old is a burden…Will you be good? Be
good in school? Be good in church? Perhaps if someone had told me a
why to ‘be good’, I would have seen a purpose and it would have been
easier. Or how to be good. So, I passed on my mis-knowledge to my
children and ‘be-gooded’ them as they grew up.
Imagine
my surprise to learn that the act of goodness, the quality of
goodness came from the word, God-ness.in the Old English, before 900
A.D.
my surprise to learn that the act of goodness, the quality of
goodness came from the word, God-ness.in the Old English, before 900
A.D.
There
is being good to others or when something is proclaimed good. Goodness
isn’t good in a vacuum. It is not a one-person quality, a quality you
keep to yourself. It isn’t good until you give it away. Goodness,
on the other hand, is having the quality of integrity in our hearts.
is being good to others or when something is proclaimed good. Goodness
isn’t good in a vacuum. It is not a one-person quality, a quality you
keep to yourself. It isn’t good until you give it away. Goodness,
on the other hand, is having the quality of integrity in our hearts.
Just
what is this thing called goodness? Tim Keller has a definition:
integrity and honesty. That is, being the same in one situation as
another. The opposite is phoniness and hypocrisy. Counterfeit
goodness is ‘truth without love’. Thank you, Tim K. for the
definition!
(http://www.jdgreear.com/my_weblog/2011/09/kellers-definitions-of-the-fruit-in-galatians-5.html)
what is this thing called goodness? Tim Keller has a definition:
integrity and honesty. That is, being the same in one situation as
another. The opposite is phoniness and hypocrisy. Counterfeit
goodness is ‘truth without love’. Thank you, Tim K. for the
definition!
(http://www.jdgreear.com/my_weblog/2011/09/kellers-definitions-of-the-fruit-in-galatians-5.html)
God
is goodness and He is incapable of being inconsistent. His integrity
or goodness is always present. Goodness is seen as a part of his
being, it is in all his being….He is good, there is no falseness in
Him.
is goodness and He is incapable of being inconsistent. His integrity
or goodness is always present. Goodness is seen as a part of his
being, it is in all his being….He is good, there is no falseness in
Him.
Funny
about words….take Lollapalooza.
That’s
a word that doesn’t just trip off your tongue. It is more apt to
trip your tongue. It was coined in the United States in 1900-1905
and means something excellent!
about words….take Lollapalooza.
That’s
a word that doesn’t just trip off your tongue. It is more apt to
trip your tongue. It was coined in the United States in 1900-1905
and means something excellent!
Titus
may have known a Lollapaloozian word when he wrote:
This
is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so
that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote
themselves to doing what is good.
These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Titus
3:8
may have known a Lollapaloozian word when he wrote:
This
is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so
that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote
themselves to doing what is good.
These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Titus
3:8
The
quality of goodness is found in what we are and what we do, no matter
who is or is not present. One little boy tried so hard to be good.
He went to bed on time, and lay there thinking about the day. It had
been a good day. Suddenly his Dad came into the room, turned the boy
over and swatted him and left without a word. The boy wondered, what
did I do? And then in all goodness, he thought to himself, “He
must have gotten the wrong kid.”
quality of goodness is found in what we are and what we do, no matter
who is or is not present. One little boy tried so hard to be good.
He went to bed on time, and lay there thinking about the day. It had
been a good day. Suddenly his Dad came into the room, turned the boy
over and swatted him and left without a word. The boy wondered, what
did I do? And then in all goodness, he thought to himself, “He
must have gotten the wrong kid.”
God
did the excellent thing, and showed his goodness in all things from
the beginning. Goodness is forgiveness, a smile, thinking and doing
well, even when no one is watching. Goodness is being a peace maker
where there is anger. Goodness is thinking of God first in all
things and his love. Goodness is thinking of others before being
concerned about self and feelings that can so easily be bruised.
Goodness is trusting God in all things, thwarting any worry or
concern.
did the excellent thing, and showed his goodness in all things from
the beginning. Goodness is forgiveness, a smile, thinking and doing
well, even when no one is watching. Goodness is being a peace maker
where there is anger. Goodness is thinking of God first in all
things and his love. Goodness is thinking of others before being
concerned about self and feelings that can so easily be bruised.
Goodness is trusting God in all things, thwarting any worry or
concern.
In
the first chapter of Genesis, we see that God declared everything He
created as good. For he can’t be or do anything but good. In
creation, He did not need ‘do-overs’. As I consider the creation and
see His tremendous power, I am reminded of my first introduction to
the ocean. As I stood barefoot in the shallow part of the ocean, I
felt the power of the waves as they gently swayed me and I knew the
utter power and glory of our Lord. Then considering all his
creation, the sun rising and falling, the waves washing across the
seas, the huge belches of a volcano in action, the mighty wind that
creates havoc or caresses a baby’s cheek, I know His power and also
His Goodness.
the first chapter of Genesis, we see that God declared everything He
created as good. For he can’t be or do anything but good. In
creation, He did not need ‘do-overs’. As I consider the creation and
see His tremendous power, I am reminded of my first introduction to
the ocean. As I stood barefoot in the shallow part of the ocean, I
felt the power of the waves as they gently swayed me and I knew the
utter power and glory of our Lord. Then considering all his
creation, the sun rising and falling, the waves washing across the
seas, the huge belches of a volcano in action, the mighty wind that
creates havoc or caresses a baby’s cheek, I know His power and also
His Goodness.
Surely
goodness
and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in
the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6
goodness
and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in
the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6
How
can I have that promise? Be Good! Be open to God, to man, not
hiding ourselves, open even within ourselves. How easy it is make
loopholes in our obedience and trust. I will be good, except
when…. Be good… unless it causes me hurt. Let the goodness
shine from our hearts in one with God. We nowhere to hide from God.
Being good is living in self repentance.
can I have that promise? Be Good! Be open to God, to man, not
hiding ourselves, open even within ourselves. How easy it is make
loopholes in our obedience and trust. I will be good, except
when…. Be good… unless it causes me hurt. Let the goodness
shine from our hearts in one with God. We nowhere to hide from God.
Being good is living in self repentance.
“Search
me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious
thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead
me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24
me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious
thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead
me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24
“He
is good, he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the
Lord for he is good. He is good, he is good. His love endures
forever. Give thanks for he is good.”
(Lyrics by Steve Green)
is good, he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the
Lord for he is good. He is good, he is good. His love endures
forever. Give thanks for he is good.”
(Lyrics by Steve Green)
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