Love Others | The Goodness of God (Part 7)
June 9, 2026
The best source of information about God the Father is found in red-lettered paragraphs in the four Gospels. The Old Testament prophets and writers had a limited understanding of God, and sometimes, like Job, they had a totally wrong perception of Him. It is easy to cling to the idea that God is angry and wrathful if you don’t read and meditate on the words of Jesus. He had firsthand knowledge of the Father, because He was sent to the world to carry out the Father’s business.
In searching out evidence of the goodness of God, the fact that God gives us the instruction to love others is a big flashing neon sign. It seems to me that only a good God would instruct His children to do good to people, even the ones who don’t deserve it! Here is what Jesus said in Luke 6:27-31, 35-36.
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on one cheek, offer also the other. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And of him who takes away your goods, do not ask for them back. 31 Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be the sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and the evil. 36 Be therefore merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (MEV)
Matthew 5:43-45 records something similar.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (MEV)
For many years I held the expectation that life should be fair and God should be fair. Why did ‘they’ win the lottery, get the job, score the winning shot, find true love, have beautiful hair, and not me? Boo hoo! But eventually, I realized I do not want a God who is ‘fair.’ I want the God we have. I want the One who is just and merciful. A fair God would treat everyone the same and give everyone exactly what they deserved, no more and no less. Be careful what you ask for, Julie. Our merciful God sent Jesus to take away our sins and the just punishment we deserved. God is a just God in that He does not show favoritism and He gives everyone the same chance to accept or reject Jesus. He is also just by letting us experience the inevitable result based on the choice we make about Jesus.
Life is not fair. This is a fallen world and bad stuff will happen. Jesus laid it out when He told His disciples “…In the world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 MEV) God’s way is to overcome the bad things with love and patience and good will toward others. This puts God’s goodness on display for the whole world to see.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Jesus! I have benefited from Your goodness and mercy in so many ways. You showed me so much mercy when [list examples of the good things and how God rescued you from situations]. Remind me of these things when I am about to return evil for evil. Put a guard on my mouth and remind me that a soft answer turns away anger. Show me how to daily walk in brotherly love for others. I ask You this in the precious name of Jesus, my Lord. Amen.