Good God, Good Father
Matthew 7:7-11
It’s so funny because even before reading this scripture passage, the lyrics to this song has been floating in the back of my head…
As children we come we arms open wide
So desperate for you, so in need of your life.
You say, if we ask for bread, you will give us no stone
(“As children” by Jeremy Riddle)
You say if we ask for bread, you will give us no stone.
This week you revealed to me the condition of my heart in its ability or lack of ability to receive good. The Father gives immeasurably. His love that flows like a river endlessly propels those who are motivated by His pure love for us to bless us as well.
It’s taken nearly twenty years to get me back to the place where You first started to speak to me so clearly to tell me what I would be doing, according to You. When I started to and then I gave up. What started as a little fire of desire to write music that glorified You in a new tune and in a new way, a little ember of a flame that quickly stifled itself. Then fifteen years ago, You confirmed it Yourself when You spoke to me so clearly, but I could hardly believe it and so I could hardly receive it But I saved it inside my heart. You said, “you will write songs and sing for me and record an album.”
All of my disappointments, I thought God just took good things away from me. But in the mix of experiences growing up You showed me who You really were.
“Jerusalem’s leaders are like roaring lions. Her judges are like hungry wolves that come in the evening to attack the sheep and in the morning nothing is left. Her prophets are always making secret plans to get more and more. Her priests have treated holy things as if they were not holy. They have done bad things to God’s teachings. But God is still in that city, and he continues to be good. He does not do anything wrong. He continues to help his people. Morning after morning he makes good decisions for them. Not a day passes without his justice. He never gives a decision that is crooked or is something to be ashamed of.” Zephaniah 3:3-5 (ERV)
You love me. You love to give me good gifts. But you are particular about what gifts I receive. You are very selective about what You give me. The same way I am selective about what gifts I give my children. You only want me to receive the things that will edify my growth and development. That is why somethings are no, but then some things are also yes. They are yes if I just ask.
The motivations of the Father’s heart are so purely good, like an essential oil carefully extracted from a plant, He is the very definition of good. The purity of his goodness oozes out of everything He does and even all of His thoughts towards us.