“47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.” – Jonathan Edwards

The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

“You can tell whether or not a man or woman understands the Gospel by watching what they do when they sin. If they run from God they don’t understand, if they run to Him they get it. They get it.” – Matt Chandler

“Would you be freed from the bondage to corruption? Would you grow in grace in general and grow in grace in particular? If you would, your way is plain. Ask of God more faith. Beg of him morning, and noon and night, while you walk by the way, while you sit in the house, when you lie down and when you rise up; beg of him simply to impress divine things more deeply on your heart, to give you more and more of the substance of things hoped for and of the evidence of things not seen.”

How good is Jesus? It doesn’t get any better than Him. Everything He thinks is good. Everything He says is good. Everything He does is good. He has done all things well.

Jesus is so good that everything is worth giving up in order to obtain Him. Jesus surpasses all others. He is preeminent in all things. He is the Alpha and Omega. Jesus is the beginning and the end. He declares the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done.

Jesus is not quick to anger. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. His name is Faithful and True. He speaks the truth truly.

Jesus is good because He is one with the Father and is a true and exact representation of the Father. Jesus is good because he laid down His life willingly, no one took it from Him, He laid it down willingly to save people from their sins. Jesus is good because He did not withhold Himself from suffering so that we could be delivered from sin and be transferred from the kingdom and power of darkness to the power of God and His good kingdom of light.

Jesus is good because He offers us true peace, fulfillment, happiness, joy, contentment, love, and pleasures. He gives us joy despite our circumstances and that joy becomes our strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength. He gives joy in the midst of bleakness.

Jesus is an advocate who pleads our case to the Father once we have trusted in Him. Jesus supports our cause and plight before the Father so that He gives favor to us when we do not deserve it. We come to Him unable to save ourselves and without anything to commend ourselves to Him. We cast ourselves upon Him and He willingly receives all who cast themselves upon Him. He takes our lives, our cares, our sin and bears them, for nothing is too difficult, and nothing is too heavy for Him to bear.

Jesus is good because He leads dumb sheep and teaches them where to go. He is the Good Shepherd. Jesus knows how to lead. He is good, really really really good.

The Lord Jesus is good. There is no one good but Him. Everything was created by Him and for Him and everything is owned by Him. I am so thankful that He is good for there are countless things that are unknown to us and being that He is good and controls all things, one can rest in His goodness.

Jesus is worthy to be praised at all times. He is worthy of glory and honor and wealth and power and blessing and wisdom and might and dominion forever and ever. You could never praise Him too much.

God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father until all things are put under His feet. His enemies, and where His enemies dwell, will be made a footstool for His feet. Heaven is God’s throne and the earth is His footstool. He is big. The heavens cannot contain Him. He fills heaven and earth.

Jesus sees all things, knows all things, and nothing is too difficult for Him. No one can lessen His power in any way. No one can stop Him from doing what He would please to do. Everything that He would please to do is good.

Anything good that anyone has or experiences is only because Jesus is good. Goodness pours from Him like a fountain. Life pours from Him. Satisfaction pours from Him. Joy and happiness pour from Him. Love pours from Him. Kindness pours from Him. Gentleness pours from Him. Justice pours from Him. Faithfulness pours from Him. Righteousness pours from Him. He is the Fountain of Living Waters.

Jesus is the only one who can satisfy to the full. He alone can satiate the soul. In His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.

To all who call upon Him in sincerity and truth, He is a shield and a refuge. To those who put their trust in Him, He is a deliverer and defender of their souls. He is a good teacher.

There is no one more patient than Jesus. He is slow to anger. He gives favor to those who do not deserve it. He never gives punishment to those who do not deserve it. He owes no man or woman.

There is no one more beautiful than Jesus. He knows what beauty the eye beholds. He created the eye. He knows what beauty the ear hears. He created the ear. He is the Bright Morning Star. He dwells in unapproachable light. The splendor of His magnificence is more than can be dreamt or imagined. He is without flaw and impeccably perfect from every angle and in every respect in the whole of His being.

The authority that Jesus carries is matched by no other. He speaks a word and it is done. His words are pure and never corrupt. He never makes a mistake in what He says. His words are weighty and freeing. His words are life. His words give life.

Jesus put on flesh and dwelt among us that we might have life. He came to destroy the works of the devil. He died to save us from our sin. He rose again from the dead to declare those whom He would save to be righteous and forever be their Advocate. He is good.

Jesus is coming again. He is coming to show His kingship and to bring rest for all those who put their trust in Him. Whoever trusts in Jesus will never be put to shame. He is irreplaceable and thankfully indestructible.

“I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Typically, the more careful attention and observation that you pay to things the longer they last. Whether it be a car, clothes, or a marriage.

Some things in life may not be worth your careful attention and observation, others cannot do without it. It is good to determine how much careful attention you will pay to your phone charger and the dishwasher, as well as for all of your relationships.

The exceptions are that some things, regardless of how much careful attention is paid, are so severely broken and are acted upon by forces that are broken such that the utmost careful attention will not permit them to last.

“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” – Hebrews 2:1

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” – Acts 20:28

I am not that much of a hip-hop fan, but Lecrae hit a homerun with the song Background.

“We know the kingdom of grace has been set up in our hearts by the change wrought in the soul. There is a new nature, light in the mind, order in the affections, a pliable will, and tenderness in the conscience. If there is no change of heart there is no sign of grace. God’s children desire God, like the beating of the pulse indicates life. Saints love him, not only for what he has, but for what he is; not only for his rewards, but for his holiness. Hypocrites may desire him for his jewels, but not for his beauty. A believer cannot be satisfied without God; let the world heap her honours and riches, it will not satisfy. No flower will satisfy the thirsty. The Christian says, “I must have Christ, grace, and heaven, though I take it by storm.” We desire Christ more than the world, and more than heaven itself, “Whom have I in heaven but you?” (Psa. 73:25). Heaven itself would not satisfy without Christ. He is the diamond in the ring. If God were to say, “I will put you into heaven, but I will hide my face from you,” that would not satisfy. A little of God will not satisfy. The pious desires still more. A drop of water is not enough for thirsty travellers. We are thankful for grace received, but desire more: more knowledge, purity, and more of Christ’s presence. We long to see him face to face, and be perfected in glory; to plunge into his sweetness and be swallowed up in him; and to bathe ourselves in the perfumed waters of his pleasures.” – Thomas Watson

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.” (1 Chronicles 29:17)

“then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind,” (2 Chronicles 6:30)

I think I have mentioned these passages before, but they have been giving me great comfort lately, knowing that God knows all the motives, intents, and plans of my heart. He tests the heart and has pleasure in uprightness. It is so comforting.

He sees all the reasons for doing the things that we do. While everyone else may assume and presume… He knows and He judges with perfect judgement. Not only is that comforting, for those that are His, but it should also spur us to fear Him and do righteously.

For those that are His, He is the good shepherd. Being that I am a dumb sheep, that is good news. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside waters of rest. It is good to rest with the Shepherd, rest and comfort for our souls.

I think many times, for those that are His, the Lord forces us to slow down, be quiet, and turn our attention to Him. He does this through all sorts of means, like, but not limited to, loss, separation, cancer, unemployment, death, accidents, surgery, depression, moves, etc, etc. All for the good of our souls to seek Him. All for His name to be made great.

He is better at overseeing our souls than we are. “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:25)

Jesus is the King of all comfort. The God of all consolation. The God of all Peace. That is why He can say “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29) And He is perfect in His help, not only because of His infinite power and ability to know the hearts of all, but also because of His experience. Because He has suffered He is able to help those who are suffering (Hebrews 2:18).

And so we go to Him. Go to Christ. Seek Christ. Put the weight of everything on Him. Bind what He, and not what someone else has said, to your heart.

“Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:128