What is "Good"?

Yesterday was week two of the current series at church, "If God is Good..." and the question was raised, what is good? Until we understand how God defines good, how can we determine whether or not He is good?

Many Christians, and even non-Christians, I imagine, know Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the GOOD of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (NIV, emphasis mine)

I know man's definition of good and that is how many of us have interpreted this verse. Merriam-Webster defines good as "advancement of prosperity or well being." Isn't that what we are seeking each time we quote Romans 8:28? Don't we use this verse as a promise that God will turn this despair into good somehow? In saying that, don't we mean God will miraculously make this tragic situation somehow advance my prosperity or well being?

But if we live our lives quoting this verse, looking for the good God has promised to work, shouldn't we understand His definition of good? Fortunately, we don't have to wait very long in the book of Romans to find out how God defines good. Simply looking at Romans 8:29 provides the answer: "For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to BECOME LIKE HIS SON, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." (NLT, emphasis mine)

You want to understand God's definition of good? You simply need to become more like Jesus. OK, how do I do that? I would imagine you make your priorities the same as Jesus' priorities. I would imagine you labor for the least of these, you daily spend time in prayer to seek God's will, and you never, ever do anything "unless I do what the Father does" (John 10:37). It is only through becoming more like Jesus that God's good will have been worked in our lives.

How are you doing in regards to becoming the good God desires to work in you? Are you becoming more Christ-like each day? Are your pursuits the same as Jesus'? Or has the glitter of the present world pulled you off track?

Commit today to become more Christ-like each day so you might grow into the good to which God has promised!