“Goodness Given, Goodness Appreciated"

"Goodness Given, Goodness Appreciated"

     Our capacity to appreciate the beauty of God's creation in its myriad expression of wonder and pleasure speaks to our Lord's capacity for bestowing His goodness.

     "Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us" (Psalm 90:17).

    Our Heavenly Father made our senses to see, hear, touch, smell, and taste tangible expressions of His beauty in order to know the essence and origin thereof.  "The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and godhead" (Romans 1:20).  Pleasure in things serves to direct us to pleasure in God.  "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).  Indeed, when we enjoy any good thing that blesses our senses, the consummation of the experience awaits our grateful remembrance and acknowledgement of the great Giver.  As we have previously suggested in these messages, "What if there was no one to thank?".  Allow that question to linger in your heart and mind, and then rejoice that Someone does exist to whom we can respond in love for the great love He has shown to us.

    For the redeemed sons and daughters of God in Christ, eternity promises an untold measure of God's bestowal of "the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7).  Eternity also promises our glorified capacity to praise and thank the Giver of "every good gift and every perfect gift" (James 1:17).  Presently, our appreciation waxes and wanes, a grief to the heart when we consider the enormity of God's gracious bestowal of generosity in the Lord Jesus.  How much has He done for which we have not given thanks?  How much He has done for which we do not even know to give thanks?  Such will not be the case in Heaven.  We will join the vast throng around the Throne of God and the Lamb to voice our joyous thanksgivings for the goodness of God in both His essence and the tangible expressions of His essence (Revelation 5:11-14).  We will also find countless other moments to feel the joy of an adequate appreciation in our hearts.  Or will it be adequate?  Not likely, in light of God's immeasurable bestowal of lovingkindness.  However, our capacity for reception and appreciation of our Lord's goodness will be greatly enhanced, and far more faithfully expressed.  "We shall see Him as He is", and thus better praise and thank Him as He deserves (I John 3:2).  King David knew and anticipated the glory, and we close with his expectation of goodness and appreciation…

"I will praise Thee forever!… I will give thanks to Thee forever!"

(Psalm 52:9; 30:12)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  Amen.

 (I John 5:21)