This post is an encouragement to Grace Community Church about the new song that we will be singing on Sundays. The song is called “The Goodness of Jesus” by CityAlight (YouTube/Spotify/Apple Music). These encouragements are meant to help the church to worship God in Spirit and Truth, having our hearts and our minds engaged as we sing (John 4:24). Also, this gives the church a chance to listen and prepare to sing the song before the Sunday gathering so we can give to God glorious praise (Psalm 66:2).
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One of the best things that I’ve ever done was to study the attributes of God. The Psalmist says, “Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them” (Psalm 111:2). To study and know God more fully has benefitted me in every way. When I understand God through the Scripture, I see that God is wise (Romans 16:27) and perfect in knowledge (Job 37:16). God is perfect and just (Deut 32:4), powerful and caring (1 Peter 5:6-7), transcendent yet drawing near to the humble (Isa 66:1-2). He is holy (Isa 6:3). To put it simply, God is Great and God is Good.
I think that there is a tendency for me to emphasize God’s greatness and downplay God’s goodness. I want to rejoice in knowing that, “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3), while not forgetting, “how abundant is [His] goodness, which [He has] stored up for those who fear [Him] and worked for those who take refuge in [Him], in the sight of the children of mankind” (Psalm 31:19)! God, through the Psalms, confronts us with both truths: God is great and God is good.
God shown us His goodness in a thousand ways, but here I will only highlight one. Paul speaking to Titus gives us this glimpse into the God’s goodness. “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7). God has most clearly shown us His goodness in the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. The Goodness of God is the Goodness of Jesus. He has saved us apart from our works. He regenerates us, renews us, gives us His Spirit, and justifies us freely. Now we are heirs of heaven and have the hope of eternity with Him. How good is our God!?
So as we sing this song, let our hearts be encouraged to love and cherish the Goodness of Jesus. Let us know our God and worship Him because He is great and He is good. Let us bring our weary hearts now to Jesus.
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Come you weary heart now to Jesus
Come you anxious soul now and see
There is perfect love and comfort in your tears
Rest here in His wondrous peace
Oh the goodness, the goodness of Jesus
Satisfied He is all that I need
May it be, come what may, that I rest all my days
In the goodness of Jesus
Come find what this world cannot offer
Come and find your joy here complete
Taste the living water, never thirst again,
Rest here in His wondrous peace
Come and find your hope now in Jesus
He is all he said he would be
Grace is overflowing from the Saviour’s heart
Rest here in His wondrous peace
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© Jacob Crouch 2021
© 2018 CityAlight Music
Farren Love And War Publishing
Integrity’s Alleluia! Music
Bonus: Listen to the entire CityAlight album (Youtube/Spotify/Apple Music) .
Aliens and Pilgrims 