Surely Goodness And Mercy Shall Follow Me All The Days Of My Life Because Of Our Lord God And Saviour Jesus the Christ -- Post 1814

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." (Psalm 23:5)

Isn't this a beautiful promise? That when we focus on our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ, our cups can runneth over. Indeed, this promise of joy and peace in our hearts is to all believers and their families and to all them that might still be afar off -- if we would only commit our lives and hearts to our wonderful Lord Jesus -- our Lord and Saviour who created this world and all that is within it -- and yet loved us enough to have His humanity die on the cross for our sin.

And this day, He wants our cup -- the cup that is indicative of our lives -- to runneth over with joy. Not just far off in the future, but now, in our daily journey here on earth too. Why? Because as the scriptures point out, "Surely He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him and yet with His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5)

The same God who holds the universe in its rightful place is holding us tight in His arms. Cuddling us in the hope that we will see His magnificence in everything around us. The brilliant, ever-changing wonders in the heavens, hand painted for His beloved creation to behold. And to know that this same God who also knows our innermost thoughts of our hearts desires to make us whole -- and complete -- in His abundance.

In the book of Job, there is an interesting passage about wisdom that states:

"There is a path which no foul knows, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen. The lion's whelps have not trodden it nor the fierce lion passed by it. He puts forth His hand upon the rock. He overturns the mountains by the roots. He cuts out rivers among the rocks and His eye sees every precious thing. He binds the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid brings He forth to light. But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man knows not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of the living.

The depth saith, "It is not in me and the sea saith, It is not with me." It cannot be gotten for gold, either shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with all the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls; for the price of wisdom is above rubies. (Job 28:2-18)

You see, Job saw the inherent value in knowing God intimately. In worshipping Him without hesitation. And consequently, in every breath how to praise God for His goodness, and kindness, and mercy. In fact, Job knew from personal experience from whence wisdom comes and the source from where exists this place of understanding. And he wasn't trading his God for anything this world could offer. Job wasn't alone.

We see the same understanding in David -- a man after God's own heart. For example, in Psalms 23 David wrote, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

John too when he wrote in I John 3, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we -- [the who-so-evers who believe in Jesus] -- should be called the sons of God."

Indeed, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that He would consider taking on a body -- God manifested to take away our sins -- our Creator who knew no sin -- so that we that abide in Him can pass from death unto life. Hereby perceive the love of God because He laid down His life for us. (I John 3:16)

This is the promise that we hold dear to our hearts. And this promise is forever.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life -- the word 'surely' defined in the dictionary as firmly, without missing, undoubtedly, assuredly, certainly, without fail and yes, indeed.

This is the Jesus in whom we worship. He is the way, the truth and the life. The same yesterday, today and forever. The Great I AM. The Prince of peace. The King of kings and Lord of lords. Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending.

Don't let another day go by without the comfort of Jesus in your soul. Stand in the offering plate.