Divine goodness, as one of God’s attributes, is self-caused, infinite, perfect, and eternal. Because God is immutable He never varies in the intensity of His loving-kindness. He has never been kinder than He now is, nor will He ever be less kind. He is no respecter of persons but makes His sun to shine on the evil as well as on the good, and sends His rain on the just and on the unjust. The cause of His goodness is in Himself; the recipients of His goodness are all His beneficiaries without merit and without recompense.

With this agrees reason, and the moral wisdom that knows itself runs to acknowledge that there can be no merit in human conduct, not even in the purest and the best. Always God’s goodness is the ground of our expectation. Repentance, though necessary, is not meritorious but a condition for receiving the gracious gift of pardon that God gives of His goodness. Prayer is not in itself meritorious. It lays God under no obligation nor puts Him in debt to any. He bears prayer because He is good, and for no other reason. Nor is faith meritorious; it is simply confidence in the goodness of God, and the lack of it is a reflection upon God’s holy character.

God is good all the time!

“Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:27

Think back to your elementary and high school science classes. For some of us, that was many years ago. Do you remember learning of plants that were carnivores, meaning they survived by eating animals? One such plant is the sundew. A perennial plant that grows on every continent but Antarctica, the sundew must rely on trapping and consuming insects to obtain the nutrients and minerals it does not receive from the soil in which it is grown. Having a lifespan of fifty years, the sundew comprises one of the largest classes of carnivorous plants, having nearly two hundred species.

What’s interesting is the way the sundew traps insects. Shaped much like other flowers, the sundew lures unsuspecting insects to land on its petals through dew-like formations on the edge of the petals. Because of a sticky substance known as mucilage on the petals, the insects are stuck to the plant. Not realizing their predicament, the insects inch closer to the center of the flower in search of food. As soon as the insect reaches within striking distance, the sundew closes and consumes the trapped insect.

Insects are initially lured by the attractive sight of the “dew drops” on the petals of the sundew. Their fatal journey begins by the allurement of the eyes. In the same way, the Christians’ journey to the path of sin often begins with the allurement of the eyes.

The devil is an expert at trapping Christians on his sticky plant of sin. Sin looks enticing, fun, and even pleasurable, but what is not seen is the ravenous enemy hiding behind the sin. Christians are allured to sin through an appealing outer appearance.

Once a Christian takes the step toward sin and lands in the devil’s trap, he then lures them closer to destruction through more enticement and temptation. All the while, the devil is waiting as the sundew waits to pounce on his prey. As the Christian inches closer to the devil, he continues his game of allurement until one day he pounces and gains control of the Christian. While we know the devil can never have the soul of a Christian, he can control a Christian’s actions to the point that the believer loses all desire to serve God.

God warns against taking the first step toward sin in Ephesians 4, “Neither give place to the devil.” Don’t even give an inch of ground to temptation. When sin starts to pull at your flesh, run to God’s Word. When temptation weakens your defense, seek God in prayer. When the devil’s path entices you, strengthen yourself through godly friends.

The devil cannot force you to sin unless you take that first step toward him. Too often Christians reason with the devil on temptation. “One time won’t hurt.” “It’s just a little out of my comfort zone.” “Well, those Christians are doing it and aren’t affected by it.” The devil’s best weapon against a Christian is compromise.

In a world of compromise, God tells you to stand firm against the devil. He warns against even giving an inch of ground to the devil, lest he lure you into his trap of temptation. Standing firm won’t be easy. Temptations will appeal to your flesh; other Christians may give in and seek to persuade you to let down your guard. Yet through it all, remember the sundew plant. Even the smallest compromise can lead to large consequences. (From Daily in the Word)

So we, thy people and sheep of thy pasture, will give thee thanks forever.
Psalm 79:13

Erma Bombeck once wrote about the subject of thankfulness, saying that when she forgot to be thankful among cancer survivors, she would hear the voice of a particular eight-year-old named Christina, who had cancer of the nervous system. When Christina was asked what she wanted for her birthday, she thought for a moment and then responded by saying “I don’t know. I have two sticker books and a Cabbage Patch doll. I have everything!”

Sometimes a momentary thought about someone other than ourselves is all it takes to remind us to be thankful for what we have and who we are. In the same way, when we turn our attention away from ourselves and upward, toward the Giver of all life, the many blessings He has poured out on us come rushing back and overwhelm us with thanksgiving.

If we find ourselves complaining about our situation or longing for a better life, we need to take a few moments to worship God and allow His goodness to wash over us until we are consumed with gratitude.(Turning Point)

The optimist says, the cup is half full. The pessimist says, the cup is half empty. The child of God says, my cup runneth over.
Anonymous

Love thy neighbor as thyself. —Matthew 19:19

Oftentimes it can be hard to be nice to your neighbors when their Christmas party lasts until 2:00 a.m., their dog uses your flowerbeds for a toilet, or their children use your property for a playground. When this happens, it might be hard for you to be “neighborly.”

Your “neighbor” is basically anyone you come in contact with— the grocery store clerk, the person waiting behind you in line, the cable guy, or the plumber who charges extra on the weekends. We don’t choose the people God brings across our paths. He usually puts people in our way to whom He wants us to show His love. Even if their culture, lifestyle, personality, or religion is different, God says these differences are exactly why we should try harder to show His love.

Even in the sticky relationships that often come with tension, we are to love others which shows our love for Him. 1 John 4:20 says, “If a man says, ‘I love God,’ and hateth his brother, he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

In today’s society, people are pushy and oftentimes downright nasty in their attitudes and actions. But, even when those people have seriously annoyed or offended you, there is little excuse for treating them with disrespect. Christ walked among prostitutes, thieves, and hypocrites—yet their lives were changed by His love. As a believer, you have the power to show the same kind of transforming love to your “neighbors.”

 Ask God to create in your heart a love for the unlovable and to see others through His eyes. Pray for those who come across your path who are uneasy to love, that Christ may change their hearts. (Copied–changed to KJV)

I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. Ecc. !0:7