Thursday, October 7
Only God is good
Scripture: Ezekiel 7-8, Psalm 116, Matthew 19
Matthew 19:17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Mark 10:18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Observation
The rich young ruler approached Jesus and asked, “What good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good.”
There is a slight difference in Mark’s gospel. The young man asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Why do you call me good? No one is good—except God alone.”
Romans 3:10–12 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
No one is good.
All of us have turned away.
We love the fantasy of human goodness. We say it all the time: people are basically good. Or, “He/she is a good person.”
Jesus says, “No one is good, except God alone.”
That’s not to say that we are incapable of doing good. We are made in God’s image and even the worst among us still bears some of that image and is capable of good. But we are rebels. Sinners. Not good.
Application
Recently, I was talking with the parents of someone who had done some terrible things. “She is a good person,” they assured me. I thought, “No she’s not. A good person doesn’t do what she did.” But I also understood that they were trying to be supportive parents, and want to believe the best about their child. I get it. Still…it’s a persistent lie that we tell ourselves.
What we need to do is believe what Jesus said, repent and turn to God who alone is good, and cry out for His mercy and help! I’m not naturally good—I’m naturally selfish and sinful. And my hope isn’t in my goodness, but in His.
Today, I want to celebrate the goodness of God, who has redeemed sinners like me. God is good! Only God.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for being good all the time. I’m not, so I realize how deeply I need You…all the time.