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Our Good God

by Jerry Ousley  
9/09/2011 / Christian Living

We all like to think of ourselves as being good people. We try to be good. We want to be honest, trustworthy and treat our fellow man with courtesy and respect. The problem is that we don't always accomplish this goal. For one reason or another someone finds a way to push our hot button and we lose it.

I don't get mad often but it isn't beyond my character. Years ago we were having a very tough time financially. Even though both Deb and I were working every hour we could get, the bills exceeded our income and eventually we had to begin deciding which bills were going to be late. We did this by figuring what the late fees were going to be and which ones would be the lesser. At that time we were still paying on the Neon I've spoken so much about. That payment seemed to slide more than the others.

At one point I was two payments behind and got a phone call from the finance company. I deeply understood their point of view. We were driving the car and so we needed to make the payments. I couldn't argue with that. I knew we owed the money and I wasn't trying to get out of making the payment, just asking for some understanding and compassion. Folks, the lady on the other end of the line refused to listen. She began to accuse me of all sorts of dishonesties and demanded that I make the payment right then and there. I explained one more time that I couldn't pay what I didn't have but that if she would be patient with me I would catch up and make our account current. Finally she pushed so hard that she found my hot button and I let loose on her with everything in me. The conversation ended with me telling her to let me know what day they wanted to come and pick up the vehicle and I'd have it cleaned out and meet them at the door with the key. Strange thing; they never did come for it and we did finally get it caught up and current. But even though I didn't use any words considered "cuss words" I didn't pull any punches with her either.

Another time when we were pasturing, at a special dinner we were having for the church a lady who had been notorious as a trouble maker pulled up in the parking lot. Wanting to keep her from coming in and stirring something up that would have ended an otherwise successful and fun time for the rest of our people I went outside and another lady from the church followed me. Just as I had expected she began her ranting, raving and false accusations against some of the other members of our congregation and I patiently listened until she was finished. It was my turn to talk and so I began. I really wanted to give her some good and godly advice but she kept interrupting me. I took it as long as I could and finally spoke at the top of my lungs saying, "Would you just shut up and listen to me for a minute!" That got their attention because neither of the ladies had ever heard me do that before. I was able to finally tell her what was on my heart and it seemed to fix things at least for the moment. Afterwards the other lady that had come out with me said, "Pastor, I was surprised at you. I didn't know you had that in you!" Frankly I didn't either.

The point is that sometimes we aren't very good. But God is always good. Psalm 86:5 tells us, "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You." Isn't it great to know that God is always good? Yes sometimes He too reacts in anger but it is never unjustified. There may come a time when that's the only way He can get our attention. Still He always has our best interest at heart.

Remember the Israeli people. The time came when they had grown so wicked that in anger God allowed their enemies to defeat them and carry them off into captivity for many years. They had pushed God to the point that He would have been justified to write them off and start all over with another chosen people. But even their captivity was His way of gaining their attention. When the time was right He lovingly brought them back to the Promised Land.

And He is the same with us. Take one "o" from "good" and you have "God." God is always good even when He reacts in anger. Remember that the next time you feel that the Lord is being unjust with you. It might be that He's using His last resort to gain your attention. But just like the Israeli people, He will bring you back when the time is right. He does that because He is such a Good God!

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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