Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Explore Psalms 103, emphasizing God's enduring love, abundant grace, and the importance of recognizing His goodness and expressing gratitude towards Him.
Good morning, family! Today, we're going to dive into a passage from the Bible that will inspire us, fill us with awe, and hopefully, strengthen our relationship with God. We're delving into Psalms 103, a powerful hymn that calls us to recognize God's goodness, acknowledge His mercy, and express our gratitude towards Him.
Dr. David Jeremiah once said, "No matter what our circumstances, we can find a reason to be thankful." Isn't it wonderful to know that regardless of our flaws and mistakes, God's grace and mercy are always available to us? We should be eternally thankful for this.
Now, let's read the full Scripture passage together:
[Read passage]
As we begin our sermon today, let's open with a prayer.
Father God, we thank You for Your enduring love and abundant grace. Help us to recognize Your goodness in our lives, to be aware of Your mercy that is new every morning, and to express our gratitude for all You've done for us. Open our hearts and minds today as we delve into Your Word. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Alright, let's dive right in!
Recognizing God's goodness is about acknowledging that God is not only good but that He is the source of all goodness. This understanding is not just a cognitive acceptance but a deep-seated conviction that influences our thoughts, actions, and attitudes.
Inherent in His nature: It's not dependent on our actions, our faithfulness, or our worthiness. God is good, irrespective of our circumstances or our responses. This is a liberating truth because it means that even when we falter, when we stumble, when we are not at our best, God's goodness towards us remains constant. His goodness is not a reaction to us; it's a reflection of who He is.
Expressed in His actions towards us: The psalmist reminds us not to forget all His benefits. These benefits are manifestations of God's goodness. He forgives our iniquities, heals our diseases, redeems our lives from the pit, crowns us with steadfast love and mercy, and satisfies us with good. Each of these actions is a testament to God's goodness. They are not just random acts of kindness; they are deliberate expressions of His love for us.
For His glory: When we recognize God's goodness, it leads us to worship and praise Him. The psalmist begins and ends this psalm with a call to bless the Lord, to praise His holy name. Recognizing God's goodness is not just about receiving from Him; it's also about giving back to Him in the form of our worship, our praise, and our lives.
Transformative: It changes how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we see the world. When we understand that God is good, it gives us a sense of security and peace. It helps us to trust Him more, to lean on Him in difficult times, and to hope in Him for the future. It also compels us to extend that goodness to others, to be channels of His love and grace in the world.
A lifelong journey: It's about growing in our understanding of who God is and how He works in our lives. It's about opening our eyes to see His hand at work, opening our ears to hear His voice, and opening our hearts to receive His love.
Mercy, in the biblical sense, is God's loving compassion for us, His children ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO