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Goodness is love in action. It is always ready to do good for another. It is defined as: The quality of being good in any of its various senses; excellence; virtue; kindness; benevolence; as goodness of food; goodness of character, of disposition, or of conduct.
The Goodness of God
Psalm 145:9
The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
God's goodness is manifested in material blessings
Matthew 5:45
"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:
for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil, and on the good, and
sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
God's goodness is manifested in spiritual blessings
Psalm 31:19
"Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up
for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them
that trust in thee before the sons of men!"
God's goodness is manifested in forgiving sin
Psalm 86:5
"For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive;
and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee."
We should rejoice in God's goodness
(just as Jethro did)
Exodus 18: 9
"And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord,
who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians,
and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people
from under the hand of the Egyptians.
Remember God’s goodness
Psalm 145: 7
"They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness,
and shall sing of thy righteousness."
Be satisfied with God’s goodness
Jeremiah 31:14
"And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness,
and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord."
Goodness (love’s character) will
- Respond patiently in very trying circumstances
- Sacrifice without complaining
- Wait patiently
- Forgive someone who has wronged you
- Serve others joyfully
- Restore someone who has fallen
- Help rebuild a person's self-esteem
- Help others feel emotionally complete and secure.
It is the Christians duty to return good for evil
Luke 6:27, 35
But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.
- But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Goodness (love's character) should be what we know as "The Golden Rule" in action
Matthew 7:12
"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."
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