God Is Always Cordial

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:11)

I have for over thirty years spoken about God's goodness. It is most important that we know about God's goodness and know what kind of God He is. What is God like? It is a question that must be answered if we're going to be any kind of Christians at all. Don't take that for granted and say, "I already know."

God is kindhearted, gracious, good-natured and benevolent in intention. And let us remember that God is cordial. [a true friend, a loving Father who cares about each of His children, and deeply interested in having us in heaven with Him forever!] We only think we believe, really. We are believers in a sense, and I trust that we believe sufficiently to be saved and justified before His grace. But we don't believe as intensely and as intimately as we should. If we did, we would believe that God is a cordial God, that He is gracious and that His intentions are kind and benevolent.

There are never any times when God won't be cordial. Even the best Christian doesn't always feel cordial. Sometimes he didn't sleep well, and though he's not mad and he's living like a Christian, he doesn't feel like talking in the mornings. He doesn't feel cordial; he's not overflowing; he's not enthusiastic. But there's never a time when God isn't. Because what God is, He is perfectly.

Oh, Lord, may I believe in your goodness more intensely. Give me a deep confidence that You are a gracious God and that Your intentions are always benevolent. Amen

___________________________________________

The Kindness of God

"Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me." (Psalm 116:5-6)

satan's first attack upon the human race was his sly effort to destroy Eve's confidence in the kindness of God. Unfortunately for her and for us he succeeded too well. From that day, men have had a false conception of God, and it is exactly this that has cut out from under them the ground of righteousness and driven them to reckless and destructive living.

The God of the Pharisee was not a God easy to live with, so his religion became grim and hard and loveless. It had to be so, for our notion of God must always determine the quality of our religion.

It is most important to our spiritual welfare that we hold in our minds a right conception of God. If we think of Him as cold and exacting we shall find it impossible to love Him, and our lives will be ridden with servile fear. If, again, we hold Him to be kind and understanding our whole inner life will mirror that idea.

The truth is that is the most winsome of all beings and His service one of unspeakable pleasure.

The fellowship of God is delightful beyond all telling.

Lord, I've already seen much of Your majesty. How phenomenal that You are also so gracious and kind, so winsome and delightful in fellowship! I thank You. Amen

~A. W. Tozer~