Occasionally it’s helpful to spend a few quiet moments looking back over our lives to review how indebted we are to God for His goodness and mercy. Of course, no two personal histories are the same. But we can all echo the words of David, the poet-king, in PSALM 23:6. He wrote, "Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." If we are trusting Jesus Christ, those few words sum up the whole of our experience in life.
God’s goodness imparts what we don’t deserve; His mercy withholds what we do deserve. In times of pain and sorrow, our heavenly Father faithfully meets our needs, comforts our hearts, and gives us strength to bear our burdens. Although we are believers, we still sin and fall short of the holy standard set by His Son, Jesus Christ. Yet He keeps on pouring His forgiveness into our souls as we confess our sins. We may think of ourselves as decent people, but we must still admit that "we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done" (The Book of Common Prayer).
May gratitude continually fill our hearts, because God’s goodness and mercy will follow us all the way to glory. We are indebted to Him forever. – Vernon C. Grounds
When we stand with Christ in glory
Looking o’er life’s finished story,
Then, Lord, shall I fully know –
Not till then – how much I owe. – Mccheyne
READ: PSALM 23
Because God gives us everything, we owe Him all our praise.