HLM Live | GOOD, GOOD GOD | Taste And See | Elvis Ghansah

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing God’s Goodness Personally

God’s goodness is not just a concept to be observed or sung about, but an invitation to personally experience His nature in every circumstance. Just as seeing a picture of food cannot compare to tasting it, so too hearing about God’s goodness is not the same as encountering it for yourself. God calls each of us to “taste and see” His goodness, especially in times of challenge, so that our faith is strengthened and our lives become testimonies of His faithfulness. [47:31]

Psalm 34:8 (NKJV)
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have only “heard about” God’s goodness but not truly experienced it? How can you step out in faith this week to “taste and see” His goodness for yourself?

Day 2: God’s Goodness Is His Unchanging Nature

God’s goodness is not dependent on our circumstances or what we see around us; it is His eternal and perfect nature. Even when life is difficult or confusing, God remains the source and standard of all goodness, and His love and faithfulness endure through every generation. We are called to view our situations through the lens of His goodness, trusting that He is always working for our well-being, regardless of what we face. [50:19]

Psalm 100:5 (NKJV)
“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.”

Reflection: When you face pain or disappointment, how can you remind yourself to look at your situation through the lens of God’s unchanging goodness rather than your immediate feelings?

Day 3: God’s Goodness Shown in Mercy and Restoration

God’s goodness is revealed through His mercy, compassion, and willingness to restore us, no matter how far we have strayed. Like the father in the story of the prodigal son, God’s love pursues us even in our failures, and His mercies are new every morning. He does not define us by our past mistakes but invites us to return and be embraced by His goodness, offering forgiveness and a fresh start each day. [01:01:51]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV)
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel unworthy of God’s mercy? What would it look like to accept His invitation to restoration and let go of your past today?

Day 4: God’s Goodness in Provision and Purpose

God’s goodness is evident in His faithful provision and the purposeful plans He has for our lives. As our Shepherd and loving Father, He supplies all our needs and leads us with care, even when the path is uncertain. His plans are always for our good, to give us hope and a future, and He works all things together for the good of those who love Him, even when we cannot see the full picture. [01:10:10]

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Reflection: What is one area where you are struggling to trust God’s provision or plan? How can you surrender this to Him and trust that He is working for your good, even behind the scenes?

Day 5: God’s Goodness Pursues and Surrounds Us

God’s goodness is not passive; it actively pursues us every day of our lives. No matter where we go or what we face, His goodness and mercy follow us, and He is committed to blessing us in the land of the living. Even when others give up on us, God never does—His goodness will catch up with us and manifest in our lives as we continue to walk with Him in faith. [01:17:32]

Psalm 23:6 (NKJV)
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”

Reflection: Looking back over your life, can you identify a time when God’s goodness “caught up” with you unexpectedly? How can you remain confident today that His goodness is still pursuing you, no matter your current situation?

Sermon Summary

Today, we celebrate the unchanging and unfailing goodness of God. No matter what we have faced, God has proven Himself faithful, merciful, and gracious. Our lives are beautiful because of Him, and every day we witness His mercy and grace. The heart of our reflection is that God is not just good because of what He does, but because of who He is—goodness is His very nature. Even when life is difficult, God’s goodness remains constant, shining like the sun behind the clouds, never diminished by our circumstances.

We are invited to move beyond simply hearing about God’s goodness or seeing it in others’ lives; we are called to taste and see for ourselves. Just as a menu cannot satisfy hunger until the food is tasted, so too must we experience God’s goodness personally. This experience is not always found in comfort, but often in the midst of trials, where God’s faithfulness and deliverance become real to us.

God’s goodness is revealed in His mercy and love. His compassion never fails, and His kindness is meant to lead us to repentance and restoration, not punishment. Like the father in the story of the prodigal son, God’s love runs faster than our mistakes, always ready to embrace us when we return. We are not defined by our failures, but by His goodness and mercy, which are new every morning.

God’s goodness is also seen in His provision and care. As our Shepherd and Father, He supplies all our needs and walks with us, giving us security and peace. We do not need to fear lack, for every good and perfect gift comes from Him. His plans and purposes for us are good, even when we cannot see the full picture. He is always working behind the scenes, turning what the enemy meant for evil into good.

Finally, God’s goodness pursues us relentlessly. His goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives, and we can remain confident that we will see His goodness in the land of the living. The greatest display of His goodness is the cross, where Jesus was given for us, ensuring that God will graciously give us all things. We are called to trust in His nature above our circumstances, surrender our plans, and reflect His goodness to others.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Goodness Is His Nature, Not Just His Actions God’s goodness is not something He switches on and off depending on our behavior or circumstances. It is His eternal, unchanging essence. Even when life is hard or confusing, God remains good, and our faith is anchored in who He is, not just what He does. This truth gives us strength and assurance in every season. [49:28]
2. Experiencing God’s Goodness Requires Personal Engagement Just as reading a menu cannot satisfy hunger, hearing about God’s goodness is not the same as experiencing it. God invites us to taste and see for ourselves, especially in times of trial. Our challenges become opportunities to encounter His faithfulness and to know Him more deeply, moving from observation to genuine relationship. [54:06]
3. God’s Mercy and Love Restore, Not Condemn God’s kindness is designed to lead us to repentance and restoration, not to shame or punish us. Like the father who ran to embrace the prodigal son, God’s love outpaces our failures and welcomes us home. We are not defined by our past mistakes, but by His ever-renewing mercy and goodness. [65:33]
4. God’s Provision Is Rooted in Relationship God is not just a provider, but a Father who provides out of love and care. When we walk with Him, we can trust that He will supply all our needs, and we need not fear lack. Our security comes from holding His hand, knowing that every good and perfect gift in our lives is a reflection of His goodness. [68:17]
5. God’s Goodness Pursues Us and Transforms Our Story God’s goodness and mercy actively follow us, even when we feel lost or overlooked. He works behind the scenes, turning even painful or confusing situations for our good. We can remain confident that we will see His goodness in our lives, and the cross stands as the ultimate proof that He will graciously give us all things. [77:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[30:08] - He Lifted Me: Praise and Thanksgiving
[32:52] - Worship: My Life Is Beautiful Because of You
[36:14] - Singing Through God’s Goodness
[46:41] - Introduction: God Is a Good, Good God
[47:31] - Taste and See That the Lord Is Good
[48:37] - God’s Goodness: Who He Is
[50:19] - God’s Goodness Through Generations
[53:28] - Experiencing, Not Just Observing, God’s Goodness
[54:54] - Point 1: The Goodness of God Is His Nature
[57:01] - God’s Goodness in Times of Trouble
[58:18] - God’s Goodness Is Constant
[61:04] - Point 2: God’s Goodness in Mercy and Love
[66:37] - Point 3: God’s Goodness in Provision and Care
[69:58] - Point 4: God’s Goodness in His Plans and Purposes
[76:30] - Point 5: God’s Goodness Pursues Us
[80:15] - God’s Goodness: A Divine Invitation
[85:04] - Communion: The Cross as God’s Greatest Goodness
[92:02] - Announcements and Closing

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Goodness of God**

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### Bible Reading

**Psalm 34:8 (NKJV)**
> Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
> Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

**Psalm 23:1, 6 (NKJV)**
> The Lord is my shepherd;
> I shall not want.
> ...
> Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
> All the days of my life;
> And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
> Forever.

**Romans 8:28, 32 (NKJV)**
> And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
> ...
> He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

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### Observation Questions

According to Psalm 34:8, what is the invitation given to us about God’s goodness?
In Psalm 23, what does it mean that “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”?
The sermon says, “God’s goodness is not just what He does. It is who He is.” What examples did the pastor give to show that God’s goodness is His nature, not just His actions? [[49:28]]
In Romans 8:32, what is the connection between God giving us Jesus and His willingness to give us all things?

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### Interpretation Questions

The pastor compared hearing about God’s goodness to reading a menu without tasting the food. What does it mean to “taste and see” God’s goodness personally, and why is this important for our faith? [[54:06]]
How does understanding that God’s goodness is His nature (not just His actions) help us when we go through hard times or don’t understand what’s happening? [[49:28]]
The story of the prodigal son was used to show God’s mercy and love. What does this story teach us about how God responds to our failures and mistakes? [[01:05:33]]
Romans 8:28 says God works all things for good for those who love Him. How does this truth change the way we look at difficult or confusing situations in our lives? [[01:11:42]]

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### Application Questions

The pastor said, “Just as reading a menu cannot satisfy hunger, hearing about God’s goodness is not the same as experiencing it.” Can you share a time when you personally experienced God’s goodness, especially during a hard season? If not, what would it look like for you to “taste and see” God’s goodness this week? [[54:06]]
When life is tough and you can’t see God’s goodness, what practical steps can you take to remind yourself that His goodness is still present, like the sun behind the clouds? [[59:50]]
The sermon reminded us that God’s kindness leads us to repentance, not shame. Is there an area in your life where you need to accept God’s mercy and stop defining yourself by your past mistakes? What would it look like to let God’s goodness restore you? [[01:05:33]]
The pastor said, “God is not just a provider, but a Father who provides out of love and care.” How does seeing God as your Father, not just a provider, change the way you pray or trust Him with your needs? [[01:08:17]]
God’s goodness and mercy “follow us all the days of our lives.” Are there areas where you feel like you’re being chased by problems instead of God’s goodness? How can you shift your focus to see His goodness pursuing you? [[01:17:06]]
The cross is described as the greatest display of God’s goodness. How does remembering what Jesus did for you on the cross help you trust God’s goodness in your daily life? [[01:25:04]]
The pastor encouraged us to reflect God’s goodness to others. Is there someone in your life who needs to experience God’s kindness through you this week? What is one specific thing you can do to show them God’s love? [[01:21:52]]

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Sermon Clips

God doesn't just do good. He is the source and the standard of all good. God doesn't just do good. He is the source and the standard of what? All goodness. So every goodness takes its source from God. [00:49:47] (17 seconds) #SourceOfAllGood

You know, when you go to a restaurant and they bring a menu for you, you will see the pictures of the food. Right? And the fact that you see the pictures in themselves does not necessarily, you know, mean that you have experienced the taste of the food. You only experience it, or you only are able to tell whether it is good or not by eating it. So that's how we read God's goodness. We can sing about it. We can hear sermons about it until we taste and see. We will not truly understand what it means God is good. [00:53:06] (57 seconds) #TasteAndSeeGod

``God's goodness is not an attribute He switches on and off. It is his nature. Hallelujah. His goodness is what? It's his nature. Praise the Lord. God is good even when life isn't. When life is not written as well, God still remains good. Hallelujah. [00:58:15] (24 seconds) #GodsGoodnessIsNature

God's goodness runs faster than our mistakes. God's goodness, that's what, it runs faster than our mistake. He's faithful and just to forgive us all our unrighteousness. So even when we have, you know, faltered, when we have stumbled, he's always ready to receive us. Again, he's a forgiving God. [01:05:33] (27 seconds) #GoodnessForgives

I am not defined by my failures. I am embraced by his goodness. I am not defined by my past, but by his goodness. The mercy of God is new every morning in my life. [01:06:07] (15 seconds) #DefinedByGrace

God is not just a provider. He is a Father who provides. God is not just a provider but what? A Father who provides. There are some fathers out there who don't provide. But our God is not one of them. Praise the Lord. Our God. Our God is a Father who provides. [01:07:40] (25 seconds) #FatherWhoProvides

Even when things don't make sense God is working behind the scenes. Hallelujah. When things don't make sense God is still working behind the scenes. You know the back side of every clue or tapestry you know it looks rough but when you flip it to the other side it looks very clean. That's how sometimes it is. [01:14:27] (29 seconds) #GodWorksBehindScenes

God's goodness is not just a theological concept. It is a divine invitation. Hallelujah. God's goodness is not just a theological concept. It is a divine invitation. For the discouraged, his goodness has not abandoned you. If you feel discouraged, just know that his goodness has not abandoned you. For the sinner, his goodness, his goodness is calling you home. Praise the Lord. For the believer, live with assurance. His goodness surrounds you. God's goodness surrounds you. Hallelujah. [01:20:17] (41 seconds) #DivineInvitation

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