[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”1891px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
\u201cSurely goodness and mercy shall follow me<\/em> Mercy \u2013 forgiveness of appropriate punishment, not getting what I deserve, escaping justice.<\/p>\n Goodness \u2013 is difficult to define, perfect rightness, what is best, beneficial or nourishing, the opposite of evil (that malevolent presence in this world that takes delight in causing pain and suffering).<\/p>\n Post-modernists would dismiss goodness as merely being what is preferred by the local tribe, but that is only because they define it as the life of luxury the world desires. But sensible people have always seen good and evil to be absolute realities in the world. We can sense goodness as having a definite existence when we choose to do something that is not to our advantage, but it is what is right or brings healing. Although it may not be part of man\u2019s nature, the recognition of goodness and the desire for it, and the shame of not possessing it, seems to be a tendency for all mankind. So we then recognize goodness as an external reality, which leads us to an awareness of God, the source of all that is perfectly good.<\/p>\n When we trust in the Lord, the blessing of His goodness may not bring the wealth, power, physical security, health, happiness, or pleasure, that the character portrayed by W C Fields desires, but it does bring a serenity that worldly desires can never bring. His goodness is a rock to carry us through the turmoil of this life, and it leads us to a willingness to share it. His mercy frees us from the endless strife and pain that our world tumbles into, which we deserve.<\/p>\n The ultimate example of God\u2019s perfect goodness was in Jesus\u2019 sacrifice on the cross, to save us from the just penalty of our sin. May I be content as I seek to know God\u2019s path for my life.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cSurely goodness and mercy shall follow meAll the days of my life;And I will dwell in the house of the LordForever\u201d What does \u201cgoodness and mercy\u201d mean to you? Mercy \u2013 forgiveness of appropriate punishment, not getting what I deserve, escaping justice. Goodness \u2013 is difficult to define, perfect rightness, what is best, beneficial or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29333","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-verses"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29333"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29339,"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29333\/revisions\/29339"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29333"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
All the days of my life;<\/em>
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord<\/em>
Forever<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nWhat does \u201cgoodness and mercy\u201d mean to you?<\/h3>\n
True goodness is elusive as it does not appear to be \u201cnatural\u201d to mankind. Natural man tends to descend to the level of the humour of W C Fields, whose most famous philosophy was, \u201cNever give a sucker an even break.\u201d<\/p>\n
And to \u201cdwell in the house of the lord\u201d was promised by Jesus in John 14:2, he said, \u201cI go to prepare a place for you.\u201d God\u2019s blessing and presence in Jesus never ends, not even death can divide us.<\/p>\n