The Goodness of God

,,,Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children {trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving}. you can never enter the kingdom of God {at all}. (Matthew 18:3}

Our life of faith, its strength and its effectiveness, the faith that is pleasing to God (Hebrews 10:38), is directly tied into our understanding, our trust and reliance, on the goodness of God. It is seemingly a contradiction, but nevertheless true, that strong, mature, mountain-moving faith is childlike.

As born-again sons and daughters of God through our absolute faith in the saving work of Jesus, our successful daily faith stand is informed and founded upon our “absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness” (Colossians 1:4 AMPC). We are to assume the attitude of a trusting child toward a loving parent. We are to rest in that knowing.

God reveals Himself to us throughout His Word, and that revelation of His character enables our faith. From Genesis to Revelation we are comforted and strengthened as we understand God’s intentions toward men.

…Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with loving kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you, (Jeremiah 31:3)

Throughout the Old Testament we see our Father’s overtures towards Israel’s rebelliousness. Throughout their “cycles of disobedience”, over and over through His prophets, He warned them about rebellion’s high cost – life outside of His protective care – as He called them back to His love and provision.

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek Me {inquire for and of Me, and require Me as you require food} and you shall live. (Amos 4:4)

In the New Testament our Father’s plan of salvation for man is fully revealed. We needed a Savior. Left to our own devices our ability to honor and love God fell woefully short.

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:18)

Being unable on our own to meet divine standards, God did it for us. He’s a good and loving Father. It is His primary defining character – “God is love…(1 John 4:8, 16). Through His Son He accomplished all that we could not to restore us back into life with Him. Not only did Jesus show us the way to live in a manner that pleases and honors God, He showed us God.

• Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father (John 14:9)
• He is the perfect imprint and very image of God’s nature…Who by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt (Hebrews 1:3)
• He is the exact likeness of the unseen God {the visible representation of the invisible} (Colossians 1:51)
• For it has pleased the Father that all the divine fullness {the sum total of the divine perfection, powers and attributes} should dwell in Him permanently. (Colossians 1:19)
• For in Him the whole fullness of the Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form {giving complete expression of the divine nature,} (Colossians 2:9) (Emphasis mine)
• Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God {possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God}… (Philippians 2:6) (Emphasis mine)

And how did Jesus give “complete expression of the divine nature”? By “healing every disease and every weakness and infirmity among the people” (Matthew 4:23). When asked if He was willing to heal a leper, “being moved with pity and sympathy” He touched him and said, “I am willing” (Matthew 8:3, Mark 1:41); by moving with compassion among the people “because they were like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). And by demonstrating the greatest love by laying down His life for us. (John 15:13)

Our Creator God wants to be known by us – a personal and intimate and trusting knowing – Father to child. He desires for us to “cast every care” onto Him (1 Peter 5:7), to rest in Him (Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 4:3) with absolute trust in His faithfulness to His Word (Hebrews 10:23). Knowing the goodness of God, walking daily in the Truth, is where faith begins.