Really Good

TITLE: Really Good
DATE:  July 1, 2019
TEXT:. Psalm 118:29 –ESV - 29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;  for his steadfast love endures forever!

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed. I once had the opportunity to go out and see some damage caused by hail.

Now normal hail damage is nothing special. This hail was different. It went right down a fence line separating two fields. One field was untouched, the other was obliterated. Even more interesting, the field which survived belonged to one of my members. The field which was wiped our belonged to his brother, a fellow who had quit the church.

Now I can’t verify what comes next. but I was told that the two brothers came together at the start of that fence line. There was nothing but silence for the longest time.

Then my member said to his unchurched brother:, “Church is at 9:30. I think God wants you there. Need a ride?”
 Whether that was said or not, I don’t know...but I certainly can figure out how that brother might have thought the Lord was gunning for him. If you’ve ever felt that way, and who hasn’t, I’d like to give you text:. From Psalm 118: 29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
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See the first part of the verse. God is good. The Lord doesn’t have to get good; He doesn’t have to order goodness from Amazon. God is very good. He can’t help being good. It’s part of His make-up. God couldn’t be bad if you paid Him. God is good, but, we sinners aren’t always able to see it. Let me ask those of you who drive a car, “How many times have you had a close call?

• Did you congratulate yourself for your cat-like reflexes, for your brilliance under pressure, or did you thank the Lord, Who is good?
• Those of you who have been healthy this year, were you glad that your parents gave you such healthy genes; did you congratulate yourself on the fact that you keep yourself in grand shape; did you think yourself a superman, or superwoman who was stronger than all the viruses, bacteria and other creepy crawlies; or did you give thanks unto the Lord Who is good? Those of you who weren’t healthy, did you thank God because things weren’t worse; or because things aren’t always this way?
• Do you want me to go on? I can. Did you blame God because you didn’t get the promotion that you hoped for, or did you thank God for the job you have? O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.

But there’s more to that verse. “For His mercy endureth forever. God’s mercy, His pity has no end. It does not stop. It keeps on going, forever….. A very long time, “forever.”

The book, "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." quotes a Roman Emperor as saying, “I have now reigned above 50 years in victory or peace...  I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness ... they amount to 14 days! Two weeks of happiness. With God it is different His steadfast love endures...and with it all the blessings which come from Jesus.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks for my Savior, my forgiveness and my salvation. May I, every day of my life, find a new reason to thank YOU. In Jesus Name I ask it. Amen.
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VC)Fr450 The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html