To encourage us to acknowledge God's goodness, express gratitude for His mercy, and celebrate His faithfulness in our lives, making Him the hero of our stories.
Hey there, church family. Today, we are going to dive into the heart of gratitude and acknowledgement of God's goodness, mercy, and faithfulness. We're going to explore how we can express our gratitude for God's mercy, and celebrate His faithfulness in our lives.
Here's a beautiful quote from Randy Alcorn that speaks to this: "God created all the characters in His story. He loves a great story, and He has made us to love it. Before we fault Him for the plot twists we don’t like, we should remember that Jesus has written this story in His own blood." Our lives are stories, and today, we're going to learn how to make God the hero of our stories by acknowledging His goodness, expressing gratitude for His mercy, and celebrating His faithfulness.
Acknowledging God's goodness is about recognizing that every good and perfect gift comes from above, from our Heavenly Father. It's about realizing that God's goodness is not dependent on our circumstances, but it is a constant, unchanging attribute of His character.
A. God's goodness is evident in the beauty of creation. The Psalmist declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." When we look at the vastness of the universe, the intricacies of a tiny insect, or the beauty of a sunset, we see the handiwork of a good God. His goodness is reflected in the order and beauty of the world He has made.
B. Moreover, God's goodness is manifested in His providence. He provides for our needs, often in ways we don't expect. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" God's goodness is seen in His constant care and provision for us.
C. God's goodness is also demonstrated in His love and mercy towards us. Despite our sinfulness and rebellion, God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Romans 5:8 tells us, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." This is the ultimate expression of God's goodness - His willingness to sacrifice His own Son so that we might have eternal life.
D. Acknowledging God's goodness is not just about recognizing these truths, but also responding to them. It's about living in a way that reflects our understanding of God's goodness. It's about expressing gratitude, trusting in His provision, and striving to live in a way that honors Him.
E. Acknowledging God's goodness also changes our perspective on trials and difficulties. When we truly believe in God's goodness, we can trust that He is working all things together for our good, even when we don't understand. We can have peace in the midst of storms, knowing that our good God is in control.
F. In addition, acknowledging God's goodness affects our relationships with others. When we understand how good God has been to us, we are motivated to extend that same goodness to others. We are called to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving, just as God has been to us.
G. Finally, acknowledging God's goodness leads us to worship. As the Psalmist says, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" When we truly understand God's goodness, our natural response is to praise and worship Him.
Mercy is the compassionate treatment of those in distress, especially when it is within one's power to punish or harm them ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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