Does the Lord see my good days?

By Ron Thomas     Hosea 6:6 (ASV). For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. When the Lord speaks of goodness, what does He mean? In Micah 6:8, the Scripture reads, He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God? Thus, “goodness” is best understood to be in relation to kindness, humility, and living in accordance with God’s way (justly). The Lord did not minimize any of His commands of a sacrificial approach to Him, but if sacrifices offered had no substantive foundation under them, the offering came crashing down, so to speak. When one approaches the Lord, he (and she) must trust Him through and through (cf. Prov. 3:5), for without that, all one presents is form, and no substance.     Hosea 7:2 (ASV). And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now have their own doings beset them about; they are before my face. As we turn out the lights to our homes, as we engage in activity that no one can see, the Lord’s eyes shine brightly on our actions. “But I am not doing anything!” might be the reply. The Lord sees that also. In the dark crevices of one’s mind, there are thoughts, even as few as two, swirling around thinking about some pleasure or vengeance to be perpetrated; maybe there is no thought about anything, but suddenly something flashes across the mind and stops. “But I didn’t do anything, I only thought it!” one might reply. The Lord sees that also.     The Lord’s warnings are many in Scripture, but words of encouragement are also there. Jehovah is righteous in all his ways, And gracious in all his works. Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth (Psa. 145:17-18). There may be many bad days from which one tries to run, but to the Lord when we run to Him, the Lord sees that as a good day.

- Ron Thomas preaches for the Church of Christ at Rio Grande in Bidwell, OH. He may be contacted at etsop95@gmail.com. Visit the congregation’s website at: https://www.churchofchristatriogrande.com