Goodness and Mercy

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness. . . .” (Galatians 5:22)
 
When we follow the Lord, goodness goes before us, follows us, and surrounds us. Having accepted the grace of salvation, we are the children of God. Goodness is a feast at the spiritual table prepared for us. God's good blessings are everywhere we look: in the beauty of the little sparrows at the bird feeder, the red camellias in the snow, the cup of coffee with chicory.

Even in our adversity – especially in our adversity – we see God's goodness! When we ask God to show us the world through His eyes, we see all things in a new way. It becomes easy to thank Him in all circumstances. It is a great irony that we never know how much we need God until the events of life show us. Then our eyes are opened, and we can clearly see His goodness. In our hearts, the Spirit places hope that rises to strengthen our faith. Every day we have challenges that strengthen us like exercise.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)

The mercy of God is a manifestation of His goodness. Flowing like a stream coming from the sacred fountain, it is provided to us in marvelous ways. There is pardoning mercy. We know that we deserve punishment, but He excused us from the sentence that we have earned. In His goodness, our Father has sought us and offered us redemption through His Son's cleansing sacrifice. He has given us new birth.

Our Father has adopted us into His family of love and given us a new name, Christians. He has placed a banner of love over us, surrounded us with His angels, placed a shield of protection around us, and sent His Spirit to dwell within our hearts. He has in these ways extended our protecting mercy.

He has sustained us with all the good things we need. Not only has He supplied our physical needs; more significantly, He has nourished our spirits with His outflowing of His spiritual wisdom when we have asked for it. When we fall into sinful behavior and repent, He provides His forgiveness. In these ways, He continues to give us His sustaining mercy.

Whatever we have needed, He has provided. He has promised that if we ask within His will, He will give us whatever we ask. He knows what we should have before we know. From the Lord's fountain of goodness flows His supplying mercy.

How do we respond to the Lord's goodness evidenced through His mercy that pardons, protects, sustains, and supplies? We offer praise for who God is and thanks for what He has done. There is an ongoing dialogue between the Creator and His Creation. The Holy Spirit nudges us to share goodness and extend mercy to other people, not because we want it to return to us as in the popular pagan concept of karma, but because we feel a desire to bear fruit.

When our lives here on earth are finished, He will change our residence to His house, where we will live forever in bliss. We are pleased with the goodness and mercy He provides; we are delighted with what He has promised. God is good!