Displaying God's goodness to our hurting world

Yesterday we talked about the goodness of God.  One of the things God’s goodness does is that it leads people to repentance.  People are brought to God through His goodness.

Yes, God could condemn us because of our sin.  John 3:16 and 17 tell us God’s plan:  ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

All around we see evidences of God’s goodness.  Just the fact that you are breathing….and reading this….is an evidence of God’s goodness.  He gives us breath….He give us intelligence!

Therefore, if you and I are to reach people, they will respond through goodness rather than through condemnation.  Anyone can condemn someone else.  

Acts 10:37-38 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him."

The people of Jesus’ time loved Him because “he want around doing good.”  People today respond the same way when they see Jesus’ followers being like Him:  doing good.

One of the great stories in sports is that of what professional football player Tim Tebow.does off the field.  You will need to read the entire article at this link, but listen to this written by award winning columnist Rick Reilly of ESPN.com entitled I believe in Tim Tebow:

“Every week, Tebow picks out someone who is suffering, or who is dying, or who is injured. He flies these people and their families to the Broncos game, rents them a car, puts them up in a nice hotel, buys them dinner (usually at a Dave & Buster's), gets them and their families pregame passes, visits with them just before kickoff (!), gets them 30-yard-line tickets down low, visits with them after the game (sometimes for an hour), has them walk him to his car, and sends them off with a basket of gifts.

Home or road, win or lose, hero or goat. 

Remember last week, when the world was pulling its hair out in the hour after Tebow had stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers with an 80-yard OT touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas in the playoffs? And Twitter was exploding with 9,420 tweets about Tebow per second? When an ESPN poll was naming him the most popular athlete in America?

Tebow was spending that hour talking to 16-year-old Bailey Knaub about her 73 surgeries so far and what TV shows she likes.

MORE FROM TIM TEBOW

For Tim Tebow's take on being named America's most popular athlete, 

"Here he'd just played the game of his life," recalls Bailey's mother, Kathy, of Loveland, Colo., "and the first thing he does after his press conference is come find Bailey and ask, 'Did you get anything to eat?' He acted like what he'd just done wasn't anything, like it was all about Bailey."

More than that, Tebow kept corralling people into the room for Bailey to meet. Hey, Demaryius, come in here a minute. Hey, Mr. Elway. Hey, Coach Fox. 

Even though sometimes-fatal Wegener's granulomatosis has left Bailey with only one lung, the attention took her breath away.

"It was the best day of my life," she emailed. "It was a bright star among very gloomy and difficult days. Tim Tebow gave me the greatest gift I could ever imagine. He gave me the strength for the future. I know now that I can face any obstacle placed in front of me. Tim taught me to never give up because at the end of the day, today might seem bleak but it can't rain forever and tomorrow is a new day, with new promises."

 
http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7455943/believing-tim-tebow

Perhaps you have heard of Convoy of Hope.  See  http://www.convoyofhope.org/

This amazing organization responds to disasters all over the world!  They truly demonstrate the love of God through their good deeds. Visit their website to find out more about them.  But then you will want to visit this link: http://www.convoyofhope.org/go/headlines/entry/convoy_of_hope_on_extreme_makeover_home_edition 

Last night, Friday January 13, 2012, Convoy of Hope was featured on : 

 

“…….ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’s 200th episode and series finale on January 13. During the episode, which documents the building of seven homes in seven days in tornado-ravaged Joplin, Mo., Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope, will discuss the organization’s work and plans in Joplin with host, Ty Pennington.

“Since the tornado struck, Convoy of Hope has been helping families in Joplin recover,” says Donaldson. “We remain committed to the city and its people and are excited to be a part of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’s efforts to help rebuild and give the community hope.”

On May 22, 2011 an EF-5 tornado carved a deadly swath through Joplin killing 162 people and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses. Since then, Convoy of Hope — which is based in nearby Springfield — has distributed more than 2.6 million pounds of food, water and supplies to those affected by the storm.”
During the program, Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope, announced that Convoy had set up a $1,000,000.00 fund to help families with the rebuilding of their homes.

They have done much to help the city of Joplin and this will be an ongoing thing.

So, you may say, I don’t have money like Tim Tebow or Convoy of Hope.  What can I do?

There is plenty each of us can do to show God’s goodness to our hurting world. There are many things that don't cost any money like saying kind words; helping neighbors; letting someone else have that parking spot and not getting mad!  The list goes on and on.

Today:  how will  you show God's goodness to people?