Devotions

God’s Goodness

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 

Do you ever pause to ponder the goodness of the Lord? These pauses in our days are so worthwhile. Most especially in this season, when things often seem so frantic, many pauses in our days are filled with bad news, worry, conflict, or lament. It’s apparent to me that there are many things on this earth that do not bring us confidence. Yet, the psalmist here in Psalm 27 is proclaiming something worthwhile for us to hear. In the midst of all going on around them in the world, the psalmist says they are certainly confident of something… that they will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Listen in, church.  

We know this is a season that is challenging for so many. We know that each of us has been tested during this time. We are familiar with what it means to worry and be anxious in this world. Our current land of the living situations are not always easy. And it is as if the psalmist of Psalm 27 desires to insert some hope and some confidence into the readers and hearers of this word. Of all the things the psalmist could dwell upon, they took a pause to dwell upon the goodness of the Lord. They declared that they will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. This is not just a future hope, but it is also a present reality. God’s goodness is still present with us in the land of the living. Do you believe this? If so, claim it. God has not stopped and will not stop being good. As the saying goes, “God is good. All the time. And all the time. God is good.” God’s goodness is present in every sunrise, every bird singing, every tree waving, every stream flowing, and certainly all around us in the air we breathe. You can name the certain and specific expressions of God's goodness that you are witnessing daily. Yes, God’s goodness is present and captured in human life and love. So let us take some time, just like this psalmist, to pause and to express confidence in God’s continuing goodness amongst this earth. These daily pauses will surely bless us and move our spirits into a form of worship. Thanks be to God!  

Spiritual Gifts Shine

“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” 1 Peter 4:10

Each of us is blessed with spiritual gifts God has given us. In turn, God wants us to be generous and graciously use these special gifts to serve one another within our church family and to reach out in the same loving manner in service to our neighbors outside the church. We are called to serve as a way to honor God by demonstrating Christ’s love for all people. 

At times, we may not appreciate our spiritual gifts or may take them for granted. We may look at others and think, “Wow, I wish I could do that…” or ask, “Why don’t I have that talent?...” We may feel our gifts don’t measure up to other people’s giftedness. It is vital that we recognize our gifts, give thanks for them, and use them to glorify God and his kingdom. 

We, as Christians, each have gifts for ministry. In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul uses the metaphor of a human body to describe the church and how it takes each of us, all possessing different gifts and talents, to be Christ’s hands and feet, “the body of Christ.” We, the church, are a beautiful mosaic which God has created! Let us never doubt what purpose God has in store for each of our lives. We are unified in one mission, as one body, to love and serve others. As the song “This Little Light of Mine” proclaims, we shouldn’t “hide it under a bushel.” No, our gifts should shine!