Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 136:1

When we turn on the television and read the newspapers, we are reminded that the times we live in are evil. The Bible warns of the sinfulness of the world and that the day is evil. We live in an age where the Word of God is questioned and held in the utmost contempt by many. The authority of the Word of Truth is brought into doubt. Times are bad, but we have a very good God. In Hebrews 13:5 the Bible says, “Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU.” God has been good to us. Even though we live in a very secular age God is still moving and blessing. God has not forgotten us. The Lord will protect His Church and meet the needs of His people as He sees fit. Anglican theologian Richard Sibbes (1577-1635) once commented, “Times are bad, but God is good.”

We ought to give thanks and praise to God for his goodness towards us. He is steadfast in His grace, mercy, and love towards us which will endure forever. God is infinitely good and perfectly good. The praise of God is a key theme in the Book of Psalms. In Psalm 106:1 the Bible says, “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

In his commentary, Matthew Henry wrote, “Forgetful as we are, things must be often repeated to us. By mercy, we understand the Lord’s disposition to save those whom sin has rendered miserable and vile and all the provision he has made for the redemption of sinners by Jesus Christ.” It is our joy and privilege to glorify God and enjoy him. We ought to worship him, not only because the Bible teaches us to, but due to the fact that God is worthy of our worship. He rightly deserves our worship. Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” One of the many blessings that God has given us is His Word. At the coronation of HM King Charles III in May 2023 a Bible was presented to the King. Upon the presentation, a clergyman declared to the King that the Bible is the most precious thing this world affords.

Richard Steele (1672-1729), an Anglo-Irish writer said, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” We must read to train our minds and to keep them healthy. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Nothing the enemy likes more than a mind he can play with. A mind that is idle the devil will fill with anything that will stop you from focusing on spiritual matters. Good Christian books are to be as important to us as food. If there is only one book you can focus on, make it the Holy Bible, for you will not go wrong with the instruction book of spiritual life. Read good sound books. Read sermons from good sound men of the past. Read good Christian books to keep your mind active and focused on the goodness of God. Read good books to deepen your faith. If you have a hard time reading, then read the Holy Bible as often as you can. The Bible ought to be your chief book of daily reading and prayer.