Life on the West Side
Life on the West Side
The God Who Is Good
What is “goodness”? When we say, “God is good,” what do we mean by that? The problem with the word “goodness” in English is that the word can mean whatever you want it to mean. Think of all the ways we use the word “good.” Is a good horse one that runs really fast or one that will walk slowly? Well, it depends on whether we mean one in the wild doing what it was made to do or one in the stable doing what it was trained to do. A good knife is one that cuts well. But if it cuts me when I don’t want it to, I say “bad knife!” So, think of this word “good.” Do we mean God is a silly, ignorant people-pleaser who only gives you what you want rather than what you need? Of course not. Ask any parent, and they will tell you: giving your children what they want rather than what they need is not good. Does it mean he will never hurt us? I love this line from C. S. Lewis. Someone said, “If God is all good, then that rules out any possibility that what he gives us will hurt.” And Lewis replied, “then I guess you’ve never been to the dentist!”
It has to mean something, and it has to mean something bigger and more comprehensive than what we want in our little worlds on any particular occasion. So, let’s let the Bible give us a weighty definition. Try this on for size: goodness is where justice and mercy meet.
The sermon today is titled "The God Who Is Good." It is the second installment in our "Good and Beautiful God" Series. The Scripture reading is from Exodus 33:18-19. Originally preached at the West Side Church of Christ (Searcy, AR) on August 28, 2022. All lessons fit under one of 5 broad categories: Begin, Discover, Grow, Learn, and Serve. This sermon is filed under Begin: A Good God.
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