‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.’ Psalm 23:6 NKJV
The psalmist doesn’t lead with words like maybe, perhaps, possibly, or hopefully. No, he says, surely, which is a term of certainty. Surely means absolutely; without a doubt! There are a lot of things in life you can’t be sure of. You go to the doctor for a physical check-up and discover you have an illness requiring treatment. You study hard for a final exam but you don’t pass and you’re required to restudy the whole course. You pray for your drug-addicted friend or sibling and set a good example for them, but they continue to spiral out of control no matter how many times you help them out.
As a redeemed child of God, you can be sure of God’s goodness and mercy. What’s your concept of God? That’s an all-important question, so think about it before you answer. Your concept of God will determine your confidence in Him. David was far from perfect. Indeed, some of his antics would have made the front pages of the tabloids. But he never doubted God’s goodness and mercy towards him: ‘This I know, that God is for me’ (Psalm 56:9 NASB). Jesus said, ‘ I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). His goodness guarantees every need you have can be met, and His mercy guarantees that every sin you commit can be forgiven. Just as sheepdogs drive stray sheep back into the fold, so God’s goodness and mercy will drive you back into His loving arms every time.
SoulFood: Eze 34-36 Mark 13:12-23 Ps 78:56-64 Pro 20:25
word4today an adaptation of The Word For Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2023
