Thursday: Goodness
The Gospel for Every Day
Each day, we slow down to align our hearts with God’s Rhythms of Grace.
This series, we examine the portrait of the Extraordinarily Ordinary Christian Life.
This week, we meditate on the theme of Goodness throughout Scripture.
Today’s Scripture
Many of us believe, publicly or privately, that we can be good enough to earn God’s favor by our own strength. In today’s Scripture, A wealthy young man realized he underestimated how much that would cost. When it feels like too much for us, maybe we’re just starting to get the point.
Reading slowly, let God convict you by his truth and overwhelm you by his grace in Christ.
Matthew 19:16-26
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Gospel Meditation
Prayerfully meditate on the Scripture you just read using the rhythm Look Up, Look In, Look Out:
Look Up: What does this reveal about God?
Look In: What does this reveal about me?
Look Out: Where is Christ leading me today?
Closing Prayer
Inspired by John 8:1-11
Lord,
Truly you are good always
I praise you for your mercy where I have fallen short
You have every right to condemn, yet you took the sin of your beloved
Help me to live today reflecting your goodness, to go and sin no more
And to be relentlessly good,
Amen.
