Thursday Devotional - What is Good?

Psalm 34:8-10     Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

I think we often misuse the word “good” and therefore misunderstand it when we read it in the Bible. Good isn’t based on our definition of good, but God’s definition.

When describing a person, only God is good (completely and totally perfect in moral character).  

Matthew 19:16-17a Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good.”

As Paul states:

Romans 7:18a “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.”

When describing things or situations, good is anything God deems beneficial. Good is anything that is pleasing and honoring to Him.

Genesis 1:31a “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”

Hebrews 10:1 “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves.”

For those in Christ, we truly lack no good thing (as Psalm 34:10 states) because we have all the eternal benefits provided by Jesus’ sacrifice. As you and I think about what is “good” and “bad” this coming year, let’s ask God to help us think about it from His perspective.

Alice