God's Word on That

  • We Are To Be Good People

    To purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good (Titus 2:14).

    I know there is nothing better for men than to be happy and to do good while they live (Ecclesiastes 3:12). 

    A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).

    Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good (Job 34:4).

    Ask where the good way is and work in it, and you will find rest for your souls (Jeremiah 6:16).

    You will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path…  Thus you will walk in the ways of good men… (Proverbs 2:9, 20)

    Loving-kindness and mercy, loyalty and faithfulness shall be [granted] to those who devise good (Proverbs 14:22).

    He who heeds the Word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he (Proverbs 16:20).

    Do not be misled.  Bad company corrupts good behavior (1 Corinthians 15:33).

    He has shown you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you but to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

    Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins (James 4:17).

    Do not withhold good from those who deserve it… (Proverbs 3:27)

    I, myself, am convinced, my brother, that you yourselves are full of goodness… (Romans 15:14)

    I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil (Romans 16:19).

    Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27).

    Turn from evil and do good (Psalm 37:27).

    Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

    Be ready to do whatever is good (Titus 3:1).

    In everything set them an example by doing what is good (Titus 2:7).

    So that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.  These things [that are good are good for everyone] and are excellent and profitable for everyone (Titus 3:8).

    May the God of peace… equip you with everything good for doing His will (Hebrews 13:20-21).

    All scripture is God-breathed… so the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

    God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).

    Let us not become weary in doing good…  As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people… (Galatians 6:9-10)

    For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works… (Ephesians 2:10)

    [May our Father] by His grace give us eternal encouragement and good hope [to] encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

    Trust in the Lord and do good… (Psalm 37:3)

    Let your light shine before men so they may see your good deeds and worship your Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).

    His master replied: well done, good and faithful servant… (Matthew 25:21, 13)

  • God Is Good On a Personal Level

    I said to the Lord: “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing” (Psalm 16:2).

    I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).

    Observe the Lord’s commands and decrees I am giving you today for your own good (Deuteronomy 10:13).

    Be careful to obey all these regulations I am giving you because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God (Deuteronomy 12:28).

    Do good to Your servant according to Your word, O Lord.  Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in Your commands (Psalm 119:65-66).

    Do good to Your servant and I will live; I will obey Your Word (Psalm 119:17).

    I will teach you the good and the right way.  Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you (1 Samuel 12:23-24).

    Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  …  Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:1, 5).

    Be at rest once more, o my soul, for the Lord has been good to you (Psalm 116:7).

    The righteous will gather about me because of Your goodness to me (Psalm 142:7).

    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).

    How can I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? (Psalm 116:12)

    I will sing to the Lord for He has been good to me (Psalm 13:6).

    It is good to praise the Lord and make music to Your name, O Most High (Psalm 92:1).

    How good it is to sing praises to our God; how pleasant and fitting to praise Him (Psalm 147:1 ).

  • God Is Good To Us

    I will give them singleness of heart and action, so they will always fear Me for their own good, and the good of their children…  I will make an everlasting covenant with them.  I will never stop doing good to them and I will inspire them to fear Me, so they will never turn away from Me.  I will rejoice in doing them good… (Jeremiah 32:39-41)

    Surely God is good to Israel, even to those who are upright and pure in heart (Psalm 73:1).

    Is the Spirit of the Lord restricted?  …  Do not My words do good to him who walks uprightly? (Micah 2:7)

    My eyes will watch over them for their good… (Jeremiah 24:6)

    Oh how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You; goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men (Psalm 31:19).

    When You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good things (Psalm 104:28).

    The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him, and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God’s Word].  It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.  (Lamentations 3:25-26).

    For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor, and [future] glory (honor, splendor and heavenly bliss).  No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).

    Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing (Psalm 34:10).

    For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with good things (Psalm 107:9).

    To those who, by persistence in doing good, seek glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life (Romans 2:7).

    The Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does… (Ephesians 6:8)

    Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight so that it may do go well with you… (Deuteronomy 6:18)

    Be of good courage and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight (1 Chronicles 19:13).

    Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in heart (Psalm 125:4).

    To a person who is good in [God’s] sight, He has given wisdom and knowledge and joy.  While to the sinner He has given the task of gathering and collecting, so that he may give it [hand it over] to the one who is good in God’s sight… (Ecclesiastes 2:26)

    We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God, and are called according to His design and purpose (Romans 8:28).

  • Study On Goodness

    We have a good God.  If anything good comes to you – even thoughts about someone else – it is from God and should be shared.  Unbelievers are not reading their Bibles; they are reading their Christians.  We have to act as the people set apart that we are – different from everyone else.

    God is good

    Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love… (Ephesians 5:1-2 )

    O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever (1 Chronicles 16:34).

    Give praise and thanks to the Lord of Hosts, for the Lord is good; for His mercy and kindness and steadfast love endure forever… (Jeremiah 33:11)

    They sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever toward Israel… (Ezra 3:11)

    For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations (Psalm 100:5).

    And the Lord said, “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name…” (Exodus 33:19)

    Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant! (Psalm 135:3)

    The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made (Psalm 145:9).

    Everything God crated is good… (1 Timothy 4:4)

    You are good and what You do is good. Teach me Your decrees (Psalm 119:68).

    Your laws are good (Psalm 119:39).

    The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7).

    For You, O Lord, are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You (Psalm 86:5).

    Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O Lord.  Good and upright is the Lord, therefore He instructs sinners in His ways (Psalm 25:7-8).

    May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God… (2 Chronicles 30:18)

    May Your saints rejoice in Your goodness (2 Chronicles 6:41).

    Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him (Psalm 34:8).

    Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good (1 Peter 2:2-3).

    Him who called us by His own glory and goodness…  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness… (2 Peter 1:3, 5)

    As for me, it is good to be near God (Psalm 73:28).

    Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? …  It is better if it is God’s will to suffer for doing good than for doing evil (1 Peter 3:13, 17).

    If you suffer for doing good and you endure, this is commendable before God (1 Peter 2:20).

    So then those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good (1 Peter 4:19).

    For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men (1 Peter 2:15).

    Let us consider how we may stir one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).

  • Faithfulness Has Rewards

    Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tables of your heart (Proverbs 3:3).

    To the faithful You show Yourself faithful… (Psalm 18:25)

    May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness (2 Samuel 2:6).

    For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones… (Psalm 37:28)

    God sends His love and His faithfulness (Psalm 57:3)

    Love the Lord, all His saints!  The Lord preserves the faithful… (Psalm 31:23)

    O Lord… in Your faithfulness and righteousness, come to my relief (Psalm 143:1).

    For He… protects the way of His faithful ones (Proverbs 2:8).

    For He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked (Psalm 97:10).

    I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant (Genesis 32:10).

    My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with Me… (Psalm 101:6)

    In My faithfulness I will reward them (Isaiah 61:8).

    I will betroth you in faithfulness… (Hosea 2:20)

    They will be My people and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God (Zechariah 8:8).

    Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

    This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints… (Revelation 13:10)

    This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus (Revelation 14:12).

    Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness (Joshua 24:14).

    Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).

    I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me (Psalm 119:95).

    Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for… (Proverbs 16:6)

    Those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness… (Proverbs 14:22)

    Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much (Luke 16:10).

    Do not plot harm against your neighbor who lives trustfully near you (Proverbs 3:29).

    You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord (2 Chronicles 19:9).

    He who has My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully (Jeremiah 23:28).

    I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known…  I will declare that Your love stands firm forever, that You establish Your faithfulness in heaven itself (Psalm 89:1-2).

  • We Rely On God’s Faithfulness

    I will give thanks to Thy name, for Thou hast worked wonders, plans for men long ago with perfect faithfulness (Isaiah 25:1).

    But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

    The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

    I will not take My love from Him, nor will I ever betray My faithfulness [let My promise to him fail] (Psalm 89:33).

    His faithful promises are your armor and protection (Psalm 91:4).

    [Jesus] was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house…  Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future.  But Christ is faithful as a Son over God’s house.  And we are His house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. (Hebrews 3:2, 5-6)

    He had to be made like His brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God… (Hebrews 2:17)

    Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23).

    Abraham… was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise (Hebrews 11:11).

    Your words are trustworthy, Lord, and You have promised (2 Samuel 7:28).

    Jesus Christ … is the faithful witness (Revelation 1:5).

    There before me was a white horse whose rider is called Faithful And True (Revelation 19:11). 

    A bruised reed He will not break; and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.  In faithfulness He will bring forth justice (Isaiah 42:3).

    Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist (Isaiah 11:5).

    Love and faithfulness meet together. Righteousness and peace kiss each other.  Faithfulness [from Jesus] springs forth from the earth and righteousness [from the Father] looks down from heaven (Psalm 85:10-11).

    He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings – and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers (Revelation 17:14).

    The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness (1 Samuel 26:23).

    A faithful man will be richly blessed… (Proverbs 28:20)

    Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).

    Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?  Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. (Matthew 24:45-46)

    His master replied: well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share in your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:21, 23)

    So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good (1 Peter 4:19).

    Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12).

  • Study On Faithfulness

    It is hard to separate Faith from Faithfulness.  Scholars say ,”The degree of faith we have is the amount of the fruit of faithfulness we display.”  I suppose that means that our show of faithfulness indicates how much faith we have.  God has faith in us.  His love does not stop because of a limitation in our faithfulness.  God’s mercies are new every morning. So pick yourself up every morning; re-believe every morning!

    There is very little on what it means to be faithful in the Bible. God is faithful. We learn what faithfulness is by looking to Him.

    Know therefore that the Lord your God … is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands (Deuteronomy 7:9).

    But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness (Psalm 86:15).

    Praise be to the Lord… who has not abandoned His kindness and faithfulness… (Genesis 24:27)

    Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies (Psalm 36:5).   

    For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100:5).

    It is good to praise the Lord… to proclaim Your love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night (Psalm 92:12).

    The faithful Holy One (Hosea 11:12).

    He is faithful and just… (1 John 1:9)

    For great is His love toward us… and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever (Psalm 117:2).

    [Your compassions] are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23).

    O Lord, God Almighty, who is like You?  You are mighty, O Lord, and Your faithfulness surrounds You (Psalm 89:8).

    Righteousness and justice are the foundations of Your throne.  Love and faithfulness go before You (Psalm 89:14).

    The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy.  They are steadfast, forever and ever; done in faithfulness and uprightness (Psalm 111:7-8).

    To Your name be the glory because of Your love and faithfulness (Psalm 115:1).

    A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He (Deuteronomy 32:4).

    He is faithful in all He does (Psalm 33:4).

    All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful, for those who keep the demands of His covenant (Psalm 25:10).

    The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made (Psalm 145:13).

    If we are faithless, [still] He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. [He can’t go against His nature.] (2 Timothy 2:13)

  • Easter – Our Time to Celebrate

    Christmas is a wonderful time of year. It is a month-long celebration! Not many acknowledge the Christian reason behind the celebrations, that the Lord came into a human body to show off God’s love for those who inhabit the earth. But those who do acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior actually enjoy the season with tremendous fervor.

    Easter for some reason hasn’t gotten the same recognition, or the same festive feel. People acknowledge the Day, but not even as a whole week much less a month of celebrating. Perhaps it is because Christmas has been renamed by so many — Kwanza, Hanukah, Winter Solstice… Everybody can find something to celebrate at that time of year.

    But Easter is different. It varies with the timing of things, sometimes in April, sometimes in March, sometimes before Passover, sometimes after, maybe coinciding with the start of spring… Yet everybody that says “Easter” knows what it stands for. The word Christmas can mean a thousand different things to many different peoples, even to each individual person.

    Easter only has one meaning: The resurrection of God’s Son, the King of the Redeemed, the Only True Witness of God’s love to the universe. Oh sure, the devil has attempted to cover over this event with Easter egg hunts and cute little bunnies. But as a friend told me, it’s not about the bunny but about the lamb. So in my heart I celebrate the Lamb with a smile every time someone displays a bunny.

    My favorite verse in all of Luke’s Gospel: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Jesus is alive and well and living as Intercessor for our benefit. Because of this current role of His, He stays busy all the time. He may live in heaven now, but He stays busy with the things down here on earth. He’s constantly working to support His people and to gain more celebrants for His Father’s banquet table.

    He will rest soon — when He gets His kingdom. Then we can all rest and enjoy His presence and His smile, and each other too. As Amy Grant sang in her song: In a little while we’ll be with the Father. In a little while we’ll be home forever. In a little while…

  • God’s Kind of Gentleness

    God’s kind of gentleness is a meekness + mildness + humility; to be submissive. Meekness does not refer to weakness or passivity, but to controlled power. Humility is a personal quality in which an individual shows dependence on God and respect for other persons.

    And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death… (Philippians 2:8)

    By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you (2 Corinthians 10:1).

    In Your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness (Psalm 145:4).

    Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4).

    I tell you this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 18:14).

    When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  If so, the host who invited both of you will come to say to you, ‘give this man your seat.’  And, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. (Luke 14:8-9)

    Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the Word planted in you, which can save you (James 1:21).

    If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

    I proclaimed a fast so we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him or a safe journey… (Ezra 8:21)

    Seek the Lord all you humble of the land you who do what He commands.  Seek righteousness.  Seek humility.  Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger (Zephaniah 2:3).

    All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves therefore under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:5-6)

    Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10).

    Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3).

    Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient; to be ready to do whatever is good; to slander no one; to be peaceable and considerate; and to show true humility toward all men (Titus 3:1-2).

    Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let Him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom (James 3:13).

    But the Wisdom that is from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).

    Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous a future! (Job 8:7)

  • Study On Gentleness

    Gentleness is defined as the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered; it is softness of action or effect (as in “the gentleness of his touch”). What is the Bible definition of gentleness? The sensitivity of disposition and kindness of behavior, founded on strength and prompted by love. In the Old Testament, gentleness is suggested by the waters of a stream ( Isaiah 8:6 ) or by wine flowing over lips and teeth (Songs 7:9 ).

    Gentleness is the quality of being kind and careful. The noun gentleness is perfect for describing the way someone acts when they are soft and calm and sweet to other people.

    … See your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation; gentle and riding on a donkey… (Matthew 21:5)

    Take My yolk upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29).

    He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young (Isaiah 40:11).

    We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children (1 Thessalonians 2:7).

    Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, godliness, and patience (Colossians 3:12).

    But you, O man of God, flee from all this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).

    Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near (Philippians 4:5).

    Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

    The meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Psalm 37:11).

    The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise Him (Psalm 22:26).

    But with righteousness He shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth (Isaiah 11:4).

    He has shown you, O man, what is good!  And what has the Lord required of you?  To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

    Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

    Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).

    Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble (1 Peter 3:8).

    Your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, … is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:4).

    Brothers, if someone is caught in sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently… (Galatians 6:1)

    A gentle answer turns away wrath… (Proverbs 15:1)

    But the Wisdom that is from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:17).

    Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone (Proverbs 25:15).  [Gentleness can do the impossible!]