Ten Good Things
Earlene Davis
I remember not liking a certain food when I was a child and I did not want to eat it. My mother would say, but it is good for you. Well God tells us of some things in His Word that are good for us. We will read a few admonitions He gives us that encourage spiritual growth as we go along on the path of life.
Psalm 73:28, “… it is good for me to draw near to God…” The word “draw” use here is not one single act, but a drawing on and on as we walk on earth. Then the Psalmist gives testimony, “I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.” Ones translation says, “and I keep on declaring all His mighty works.” The results of trusting God is being able to tell what wonderful things the Lord has done. We may not all be preachers or teachers, but we all have the privilege of testifying of His goodness. James 4:8 gives promise – “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” Praise the Lord!
Psalm 92:1-5, “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing His praises.” This joyful occupation is good for me, it raises my spirits and causes me to triumph in the Lord, in His loving kindness. It also effects those around us to render thanks and praise to God. We thank men when they show us a kindness, how much more we should bless the Lord for all He has done for us. Verse 2 says, “show forth,” give testimony of His loving kindness in the morning and His faithfulness every night. We learn of His goodness in all circumstances, even in the dark night time experiences. Phil. 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice.”
Psalm 119:71, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted.” God allows afflictions to come to us for our Profit. He makes them work good for us. We learn Christ better in those times and we are being made more like Him. II Cor. 4:16-17 -”For which cause we faint not, though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
Psalm 133:1, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” There is real benefit for the saints, for if there is no unity, there is contention. Verse 3 says that therein the Lord commanded a blessing. Praise God! Heb. 12:15 – tells us, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any toot of bitterness springing up trouble you and there-by many be defiled.”
Psalm 147:1, “…for it is good to sing praises unto our God…” When it comes from the heart – it is beautiful to His ears. Our Creator gave us that ability to sing, just as He gave the birds notes to praise Him. Eph. 5:18-20 -”…be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord. Verse 20 – “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Proverbs 15:23, “How good it is for a wise word to be spoken in due season.” Prov. 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Wise words are, the Word of God. May we feed on His Word and He will reward us with wisdom by His Holy Spirit to speak it at the right time.
Lamentations 3:26, “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly (or patiently) wait for the salvation of the Lord.” Read Vs. 24-25. We have a blessed hope of the coming of the Lord – Titus 2:13. And we are admonished in James 5:7-8 – Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord.”
I Timothy 2:3, “It is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” Vs. 1-4 tells us what is pleasing in God’s sight, it is prayer and thanksgiving for all men, even those in authority that you may not like. For He would have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Titus 3:8, “…be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” This is a faithful saying and Paul says, affirm constantly meaning teach the believers and remind them. It is not only good for us, but profitable. II Pet. 1:8, “for if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful…” speaking of this life. And there is reword in the future. Rev. 2:10 – “be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Hebrews 13:9, “For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace…” It is so important to be established, so we are not taken in by false teachings and they abound on every side. We must test everything by the Word of God. – know it, study it, lay hold of it, and yield to it, thus letting it be worked in our life by the Holy Spirit.
