Are You Partaking of the Goodness and Mercy of the Lord?
March 24, 2023
Are You Partaking of the Goodness and Mercy of the Lord?
By Brooke Holt
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6
My youngest son, a senior in high school, has less than nine weeks until graduation. In the home stretch, staying engaged and focused on school is proving challenging. The senior trip lies just ahead along with making plans for college. With all these exciting distractions, what keeps him disciplined to get up for school each morning, to attend classes, and to complete the many assignments? Only the vision of walking across the stage and receiving his diploma, though he is tired of school and ready to be done. With that goal in sight, it compels him enough to stay the course.
Like my son, David felt the fatigue of this world. In Psalm 23, David has written about walking through the shadow of death (verses 4-5). He recounted the ways in which he has been surrounded by enemies (verse 5). And now David concludes this psalm by focusing on the goodness and mercy of the Lord. Those attributes of God follow David, surround David, and ensure that he will finish his life with the greatest reward ever: “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (verse 6). That is David’s goal – to finish the race of life and to live in the presence of his Lord forevermore.
That is my goal, and I would assume it is your goal, too. What could be better than beholding the glory of the Lord in its fullness, day after day after day forever? The goal is clear, but what sustains you and me as we run our race?
David writes that God’s goodness and mercy sustains us. Thankfully, that goodness and mercy are available each day until we reach our eternal home. The question is whether you are partaking of the goodness and mercy of the Lord. When life is challenging, when you feel fatigued and want to throw in the towel, do you stop to pray? Do you worship and read God’s Word? Do you remind yourself of God’s goodness to you in the past and trust that goodness to continue?
Knowing about God and experiencing God are markedly different. You can know God is good and merciful and yet miss the joy of experiencing those divine gifts. The Lord loves you, has compassion for you, forgives all your iniquities, and stands ready to display his love and kindness to you. He does not condemn you or take note of the many times you fail to obey him. Instead, the Lord stands ready to restore you, to heal you, and to guide you to your eternal home.
Come and partake of his goodness and mercy today!
Reflection:
How is the Lord inviting you to partake of these divine gifts today and how could partaking of them empower you to steadfastly walk the journey of faith? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Recommended Resource:
Could you use some hope right now? Join Peter’s first audience—“elect exiles” undergoing persecution—and experience the apostle’s powerful call to follow Jesus in the midst of life’s challenges, knowing your Living Hope is not a distant one, but a daily, glorious, life-giving reality! This unique six-week small group Bible study, A Living Hope: A Study of 1 Peter, helps you uncover the priceless promises written specifically to the struggling and the hurting, with pastoral gentleness and bold confidence for the future. This study of 1 Peter will help you become utterly convinced that Jesus is the only sure, true, incorruptible, and permanent hope for you.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
