Living on the Promises: Amazing Grace – Good Gifts from a Good God

“The Lord has promised good to me. His Word, my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.”

Most of us are familiar with this well-known verse in “Amazing Grace.” But what exactly does it mean? After all, good can mean anything from That pizza was good to I had a good time at the party.

Since God’s character includes goodness, we know that He is the standard for what is good as well as the Giver of all good things. God IS good, and God DOES good (Psalm 119:68).

The ultimate proof of God’s goodness is our redemption: God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

As sinners, we don’t even deserve salvation, but because of God’s amazing grace, He gives us many other good things as well, as James reminds us:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (1:17).

So, how can we fully partake of all the good that God has promised to us? By coming to God expectantly, as David shares in Psalm 34:8 (ESV): Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

Let’s take a look at several different ways God gives us good things. First, God displays general goodness to all of His creation. For instance, the sun and the rain fall on the gardens of the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). God provides food for “every creature” (Psalm 136:25 NIV). Both the saved and the unsaved experience happiness.

Second, God gives His people additional good things, as conveyed through His many covenants and blessings found throughout Scripture. He protects us and provides for us in many good ways:

The Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11 ESV).

But what about all the suffering in the world? Why do bad things happen to good people? We WILL go through hard times. Even Jesus said we would. People are sinful and make bad choices, and we reap the consequences. But, you can trust God with your heart. You can trust Him to write a good ending for your story.

So then, what should your response be to all the good that God lavishes on you? You should seek to nurture goodness in your life — it’s a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). You should also seek to do good for others:

As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10 ESV).

Meditate on one of the following verses each week this month, and let us know how you will respond to God’s amazing grace in His promises of goodness to you.

Week One

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV).

Week Two

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6 ESV).

Week Three

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:34 ESV).

Week Four

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV).

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