"Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." James 1: 16-18
Who really decides what is good in this world? Is it the lawmakers, or maybe even law enforcers? Or is it those people we consider to be "good" people, like civil rights activists or Mother Theresa? I mean, surely those people who do "good" things know the difference between what is good and what is bad. Right? So why are there so many different ideas about what is good?
The worldly view of "good" is a constantly changing roller coaster of theories and ideals. Many of the Nazis in Germany thought they were doing "good" by attempting to wipe out the Jews. But is it ever good to kill off an entire group of people, specifically God's chosen people in this case? The members of Westboro Baptist Church thought they were doing "good" when they tried to cleanse the nation of a sin and started the "God Hates Fags" movement. But their movement led to the humanly judgment of sinners, when God alone has the right to judge our sin; and He hates sin, it's true, but He doesn't hate sinners. In fact, He loves sinners enough to die for the penalty of that sin.
Our worldly view of "good" is often skewed by sociological change, economic status, cultural biases, etc. It is skewed by the world around us. But there is nothing of this world that provides anything more than a few short bursts of happiness, often followed by longer periods of hurt and sadness. Things like promiscuity, pornography, drugs and alcohol, which the world often refer to as "good," usually wind up hurting relationships, lives and, ultimately, ourselves.
But there is one good that never changes. It's always been and always will be. The good that comes from above. God's good. When God says something is good, it is always good. When God created the heavens and the earth, it was good. When He formed the plants and animals from nothing, it was good. When He molded man and woman and breathed His life into them, it was very good. And He is still doing good for us every day. Through His Word and His presence, He tells us what is actually good. Because good is only good if it lines up with God. So the next time you're wondering if something is good, find out what God thinks. His good should be the standard for our good.
Father, help every "good" in my life to align with Your good. Help me to have the discernment necessary to tell the difference between Your good and the world's good in the toughest situations, and help me to handle those situations while still shining Your light. Praise You for Your goodness! In Jesus' name, Amen.
Who really decides what is good in this world? Is it the lawmakers, or maybe even law enforcers? Or is it those people we consider to be "good" people, like civil rights activists or Mother Theresa? I mean, surely those people who do "good" things know the difference between what is good and what is bad. Right? So why are there so many different ideas about what is good?
The worldly view of "good" is a constantly changing roller coaster of theories and ideals. Many of the Nazis in Germany thought they were doing "good" by attempting to wipe out the Jews. But is it ever good to kill off an entire group of people, specifically God's chosen people in this case? The members of Westboro Baptist Church thought they were doing "good" when they tried to cleanse the nation of a sin and started the "God Hates Fags" movement. But their movement led to the humanly judgment of sinners, when God alone has the right to judge our sin; and He hates sin, it's true, but He doesn't hate sinners. In fact, He loves sinners enough to die for the penalty of that sin.
Our worldly view of "good" is often skewed by sociological change, economic status, cultural biases, etc. It is skewed by the world around us. But there is nothing of this world that provides anything more than a few short bursts of happiness, often followed by longer periods of hurt and sadness. Things like promiscuity, pornography, drugs and alcohol, which the world often refer to as "good," usually wind up hurting relationships, lives and, ultimately, ourselves.
But there is one good that never changes. It's always been and always will be. The good that comes from above. God's good. When God says something is good, it is always good. When God created the heavens and the earth, it was good. When He formed the plants and animals from nothing, it was good. When He molded man and woman and breathed His life into them, it was very good. And He is still doing good for us every day. Through His Word and His presence, He tells us what is actually good. Because good is only good if it lines up with God. So the next time you're wondering if something is good, find out what God thinks. His good should be the standard for our good.
Father, help every "good" in my life to align with Your good. Help me to have the discernment necessary to tell the difference between Your good and the world's good in the toughest situations, and help me to handle those situations while still shining Your light. Praise You for Your goodness! In Jesus' name, Amen.
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