As I was going about my normal routine yesterday morning, I realized that some of you may be thinking that I have a “Pollyanna” approach to the Gospel. And you’re right, I do.
Not that I ever discount the hard times, the struggles, the anxious moments in life but in each of those moments and in each moment of every day I can see and choose to focus on the goodness of God.
Here’s why.
“ Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” Romas 2:4 NLT
“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 NKJV
It is the kindness and goodness of God that draw us to Him. It’s His love and compassion that give us the hope and comfort we need so badly.
His goodness and love are His core and direct all He does. He wants us to share that with the world.
God, our heavenly Father, is just and righteous. He abhors sin but loves everyone who does sin. In fact, He had Jesus take all our sin on Himself so that we could be clothed in His righteousness.
“17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new…21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Corinthians 5:17, 21 NKJV
When we realize the length that God, the Father, went to in providing the forgiveness for our sins we are/will be overwhelmed by His goodness and love. We lose the desire to sin in light of His goodness.
“So do you think we should continue sinning so that God will give us more and more grace? 2 Of course not! Our old sinful life ended. It’s dead. So how can we continue living in sin? 3 Did you forget that all of us became part of Christ Jesus when we were baptized? In our baptism we shared in his death.4 So when we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and took part in his death. And just as Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father, so we can now live a new life.” Romans 6:1-4 ERV
Our Father wants us to live the best life, a life set free from the power of sin. He has provided us with a new life; it is a gift of His goodness!