July 18

The Vast Riches of God’s Goodness,
Patience, and Longsuffering

 
As humans locked in a perennially dysfunctional world, we often take our cues from the culture rather than from the only true sources of intelligence and knowledge, which are the Word of God and His indwelling Holy Spirit. For example, when we hear the word “riches,” we often think of money and possessions. And yet the truest riches of life are usually anything but those. When I cradle my grandchildren, hug my grown sons and daughter, or cuddle with my wife at night, I am made aware most strongly of life’s truest and most compelling riches.

And when I am alone with my Lord Master, sitting and talking with Him about life and the deeper mysteries and questions I face, or just sitting silently with Him wrapped securely in His magnificent, irresistible Love, it is then that I understand real wealth and true riches. It is that Love that flows from His eternal goodness that drew me to Him at the beginning. It is that same goodness and Love that sacrificed themselves for me, and it is that same goodness that keeps me even now and caresses me each moment and hour of each passing day.

Said Paul in Romans 2:4, “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness (goodness) and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”  Beloved, the vast sweep of God’s goodness is complete from eternal destiny to eternal destiny. It is a Goodness that is opulently rich, and it is a Goodness that freely shares that wealth with everyone He encounters. It is a Goodness that has a Name, and it is the Name above all names. And at that Name, every knee shall bow, in this life or in the next. I call that Name Goodness, my sweet Lord Master, my Savior, my Brother, my Lord, my King, and my Father God!