Means & Motive

Imagine the story of Ruth if Boaz was incredibly kind and gracious, but did not have the means or money to support Ruth and redeem her.

Or imagine he had all the resources at hand, but was completely indifferent to her.

It would have been an average, disappointing end. But the good news is that Boaz was good and he was able.

And Boaz being just a shadow of Jesus, imagine how good and able our God is. He has both perfect motive and endless means.

You see, God is so so good.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good and his love endures forever. Psalm 136
Gracious and compassionate, abounding in love and showing faithfulness to generations. Psalm 145:7-9

But if he only loved us and had these wonderful precious thoughts toward us, but no power to act or intervene, then it would be nice, but what good would it really be?

But the beautiful news, friends, is that he has absolute power and authority and resources: means. He holds the universe in his hands. He speaks stars and planets into existence. He alone holds the ultimate ability to give and take away. 

Have a read of Psalm 145:3-6.

He is perfectly good and absolutely able.

So because of that, verse Psalm 145:13 onward (faithful to all his promises) can be true.

He is good and able when it comes to your salvation. Your provision. Your sanctification.

Why is that goods news?

Because it means that every single thing that occurs in your life has come to you through the filter of God’s goodness and his power.

And in no way to belittle the terrible struggles that some of you are going through, but yes, even that. Even in the darkest of nights, God’s goodness and power hold true.

And though we don’t understand, we have to, by faith, cling to that truth all our days.

In 2 Chron 20, the Israelites are facing terrible armies, with no earthly hope of surviving. I love how Jehoshaphat prays - we don’t know what to do but our eyes are on you.

We cling to his promises. We cling to his character.

Though, on this side of eternity, we may not always FEEL God’s goodness (it is still true, but masked and hidden in the brokenness of our world), after a little while we will see goodness face-to-face.

And that is our hope.