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5 Roles of Jesus Christ that Deeply Reflect God’s Love and Goodness
Have you been wondering, who is Jesus? Have you been confused as to what the Bible says about Him, asking yourself questions like: Is Jesus also God? Did He truly come down to earth and live in human form? And why did He die on the cross? If so, then you’re in the right place!
Discover five of Jesus’ roles that will give clarity about Jesus, but also expose God’s love and goodness behind it all!
1. Jesus is the Son of God
God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are three distinct persons within one being (aka God).
In the case of Jesus, especially when we talk about the Trinity, His distinct persona is often referred to as the Son of God.
He’s called this because, when He was born into human history, He was God manifested into human form. Meaning, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit:
Luke 1:35 (NLT): The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.” [Emphasis mine.]
Matthew 1:18-21 (NLT): This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” [Emphasis mine.]
Now, how is Jesus being the Son of God an example of God’s love and goodness?
As it says in Matthew 1 (above), “[Jesus] will save his people from their sins.”
In His grace and mercy, God sent Jesus to die for our sins, in our place.
2. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords
The title of “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” refers to the fact that Jesus - who is part of the Triune of God - has absolute power and authority over all of Creation.
In other words, He is the King (i.e., highest authority) over all other rulers and powers.
In Matthew 28:18 (NLT), Jesus said the following to His disciples after the resurrection: Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”
Eventually, this will become known to everyone (not just those who believe in Him):
1 Timothy 6:16 (NLT): “At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.”
Revelation 17:14 (NLT): “Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.”
Revelation 19:16 (NLT): “On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.”
What does this title have to do with God’s love and goodness?
We can find assurance in the fact that God (of whom Jesus is a part of within the Trinity) is:
More powerful than anything or anyone we encounter.
Is a safe and steadfast refuge. (More so than anything earthly.)
Also, when Jesus returns to earth, this will become clear to everyone (as we see in the Revelation verses).
As such, we can be assured of the victory to come. The story ends with God’s original design, based on His love and goodness, completely winning over sin, evil, and all the things that have existed because of them:
Revelation 21:4 (NLT): “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
3. Jesus is Your Savior
The title of Savior refers to the fact that Jesus died on the cross, for our sins, so that we could be fully reconciled with God.
1 John 4:14 (NLT): “Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”
Acts 5:31 (NLT): “Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven.”
Sin cannot exist alongside God because He is holy - which meant, after the fall back in the Garden of Eden, we humans faced being separated from God for all eternity.
Rather than let this happen, and rather than place His wrath on us (because while He loves us, God hates sin because He is holy [Psalm 11:5]), in His love, grace, mercy, and goodness, God the Father sent Jesus to earth to die for our sins instead.
It’s the blood of Jesus that makes us clean and allows us to be in God’s presence.
Isaiah 1:18 (NLT): “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Psalm 103:11-12 (NLT): “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
While Jesus died on the cross so that all humans would have the opportunity to be in relationship with God, it’s not an automatic gift. Nor is it something that God will push on us.
We need to, as individuals, decide to accept that Jesus died for our sins and confess Him as our Lord and Savior. Even though Jesus is the only way to have eternal life and closeness with God:
John 14:6 (NLT): Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
4. Jesus is Your Friend
Did you know that Jesus considers you His friend? Even though He’s also your God, Lord and Savior, and the like?
In John 15:13-15 (MSG), Jesus says: “Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.”
While only certain people prior to Jesus were named friends by God, here Jesus is saying that this has changed.
Regardless, God has - and always will be - a God of relationship. He doesn’t play down His sovereignty or holiness, for example. But He does deeply desire to have a personal relationship with us.
In the verses we just read, Jesus is talking about an open and loving relationship. Keep in mind that the use of the word “command” is not done in the way of a harsh taskmaster. It’s tied to abiding in Jesus and His love.
A few verses above, in John 15:9-10 (MSG), Jesus says, “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.” [Emphasis mine.]
5. Jesus is Your Guide
“Guide” is not an official biblical title for Jesus. But I’m using it here as it clearly speaks to the fact that He leads us through life.
In terms of the Bible, the word “Christian” means “follower of Christ.”
In order to be a Christian, and be reconciled to God the Father, you must accept that Jesus died for our sins and defeated death.
However, Jesus - along with the Holy Spirit - are our guides.
Psalm 32:8 (NLT): The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
Psalm 119:105 (NLT): “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
Psalm 25:5 (MSG): “Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth. You are my Savior, aren’t you?”
Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit after he ascended to Heaven (after His resurrection).
In John 14:16 (NLT), before He was arrested, Jesus told His disciples: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”
Then, after His resurrection, we see the following in John 20:20-22 (NLT), “As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.’ Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”
The #1 Reason You Can Stop Trying to Please God with Your Actions
Do you struggle with pleasing God? Do you feel like it’s something you’ll never be able to do? That you’re too imperfect, sinful, or different? Have other people said things to make you feel completely inadequate or unlovable?
The truth is that you’ve already pleased God in a specific way - one in which a lot of other Christians fail to do. It’s crazy, but true! Join me as I share the details.
God is More Interested in Your Heart than Your Actions
A lot of you are, unfortunately, familiar with religion as the Bible defines it.
Religion is when humans strive to earn God’s love, favor, and provision - as well as salvation or admittance into Heaven - through works.
This is NOT the biblical truth (aka the Gospel which means “good news”).
Humans are sinful. We are incapable of earning our own salvation. We don’t have the ability to reconcile ourselves to God which is why He sent Jesus to die on the cross.
In addition, God freely loves us as we are - sinful, messy, and in progress. His love, provision, and protection are NOT things we need to earn. As the Bible clearly shows - when it’s taught correctly - God gladly gives us these things without us having to essentially qualify for them. (Just like any other good dad.)
However, because religion is about earning things, it often includes ideas such as needing to be sinless, perfect, or successful in keeping to a long list of rules that are usually man-made - and unrealistically obtainable.
In other words, there’s a focus on one’s works (aka one’s actions).
However, God is ultimately more interested in your heart than your actions. What do I mean by this?
1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) says: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
What’s happening here is God sent the prophet Samuel to seek out a man named Jesse, for one of Jesse’s sons would be the new king of Israel.
When Samuel arrives, he takes one look at Eliab, one of Jesse’s sons, and immediately thinks he must be the new king. But in verse 7, which we just looked at, God tells Samuel that He’s more concerned with a person’s heart than how they seem on the outside.
Turns out none of the seven sons that Jesse presented to Samuel was the future king. Instead, it ended up being David, the youngest son, who Jesse had left in the fields watching over the sheep and goats.
David, as we know, eventually went on to kill Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. Something that took a lot of courage and faith.
When God says that He’s more interested in our hearts, it means that He’s more interested in who we are than what we’re doing.
This is one reason why Jesus was so frustrated with certain religious leaders during His ministry. Their motivations - which stemmed from their hearts - weren’t focused on loving, protecting, and uplifting God’s people. Instead, they had veered towards religion by adding laws to God’s laws, being very strict, and other related actions.
Even a modern Christian can do all of the “right things” - such as read their Bible, pray, attend church - but not actually love God. Or have faith. Or desire to grow in their relationship with Him and do courageous acts for the Kingdom.
Instead, they might be complacent or, on the flip side, lord themselves and their accomplishments over other people that, like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, negatively affect people who are trying to love God.
Now, this isn’t to say that your actions are completely overlooked or that they don’t have consequences. The Bible is full of God’s design for us regarding actions, meant for our good, and examples of what happens when people don’t adhere to them and/or sin.
But there’s a reason why Jesus answered the way He did in Matthew 22:36-38 (MSG) when one of the religious teachers asked:
“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”
When you love God - which is a process, because it’s a relationship just like any other - you are focusing your heart, soul, and mind first and foremost on Him.
And when you do that, and as the relationship grows and your growing trust in Him allows Him to begin changing you in very positive, freeing, and healing ways, the roots beneath your actions change.
Your heart - and mindsets - will start to change. And when those change, so do your actions.
If actions could change our hearts and mindsets, and the core of who we are, then Jesus’ answer would have been very different.
So how does this relate to you pleasing God where you are today?
Friend, here’s the truth: The fact that you are HERE; that you have taken even one step on this journey; that you’re allowing your heart, mind, and soul to begin to focus on knowing God for who He truly is; and the actions that you’ve taken, even if it’s just being here right now…that is immensely pleasing to God. WAY more than any of the religious, done-by-rote actions that you could do.
Again, God is more interested in who you are than what you’re doing.
In other words, He could care less about empty checklists. Or you being perfect (which isn’t realistic, obtainable, or biblical).
Works aren’t bad. But they should be a natural response to God’s love for us, not a method we use to earn His love.
And even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, you’re already responding in the right way by being here. By searching out the truth and being willing to take a first step that not everyone else is willing to take.
You don’t need to “have it all together,” or be “good enough,” or be sinless or perfect. David wasn’t. He went on to make some pretty big, sinful mistakes.
But in 1 Samuel 13:14 (NLT), it says, “...for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart.” That man was David.
All of this to say, friend, that you are already pleasing God. In a way that not a lot of people, including those who consider themselves Christians, honestly do.
You may think you’re hopeless and a hot mess express, but you’re actually ahead of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day that went astray.
So, here’s what I want you to do with all of this…
Ask Jesus to Help You Focus on Your Heart
Firstly, I want you to take some time to revel in the truth we’ve just covered. For a lot of you, this was a major breakthrough moment. Take the time to process it and allow its meaning to soak in.
Secondly, get out your Truth and Dare journal and make a note of the truth we’ve just covered. It doesn’t have to be a long, complex outline. The goal is to have a written reminder of this big idea moving forward.
Thirdly, moving forward, work on focusing on your heart in two key areas:
It’s time to move away from obsessing over being perfect, or keeping to religious rules that aren’t in the Bible or biblically accurate, etc. Instead, ask Jesus to help you focus on who you are/your heart/motivations.
Example: If you only read your Bible twice this week, but you did so with an honest hunger for being with God, revel in the awesome position of your heart rather than beat yourself up over only reading it two days out of seven.
Ask Jesus to show you areas of your heart that need to change - meaning, that need to become more like His - and to help those changes take place.
If this currently sounds too scary or vulnerable to you, no worries. There’s no need to push yourself into something you’re not ready for. But make a note of this in your Truth and Dare journal so you can revisit it later down the road.
3 Steps to Help Kill the Lie that You’re Not Good Enough for God
Have you been led to believe that you’ll never be “good enough” for God? Either directly or from things you’ve been taught? Do you feel weighed down with hopelessness and despair - even as a part of you desperately yearns to be loved by Him? And accepted for who you are?
Friend, today I’m going to help propel out of this dark place and into hope, healing, and closeness with God. Learn three actionable, practicable steps you can take - starting today - to forever change how you see your Heavenly Father - and yourself.
1. Make it a Priority to Learn About God’s True Character
Believing that we’re not “good enough” for God is directly related to ideas, teachings, and beliefs that center around a version of God that requires us to earn His love.
In other words, it’s related to the idea that God’s character is harsh, critical, selective, random, judgemental…just to name a few.
So, in order to start moving away from this belief that you need to be “good enough,” you first need to disprove it.
You need to learn who God truly is, so that you confidently know what He really wants.
The more you learn about God and His true character, the more you’ll find:
Acceptance (for who you are)
Love (that you don’t need to earn)
Freedom (from unbiblical ideas)
Not to mention God’s desire to share your burdens, to protect you, to nurture you, to be close to you, etc.
If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, then you know I routinely cover topics related to God’s character. So you may have already started making progress in this area.
If you’re new, I would recommend browsing past episodes and using the FREE resource that is this podcast. You can freely access it 24/7 to start changing your life - and your relationship with God - in profound ways.
Don’t forget that you can also subscribe so you can instantly be notified when new episodes are released.
In addition, I encourage all of you listening (new listeners and avid fans) to sign-up for my email list (https://bit.ly/GodLovesMeEmail). Why? Because by the end of the year, I’ll be releasing a series of mini-courses that will dig deeper into God’s character., taking you beyond the teaching in the podcast.
These mini courses will be residing within a special online community, so that you can be supported, ask questions, and have access to other tools and resources to further expand your biblical knowledge about God - and help you move rapidly away from hopelessness and despair into something loving and hopeful.
By signing up for my email list, you’ll get notified as soon as they launch. (Of course, if you’re hearing this well into the future, all you might have to do is visit my website.)
That being said, don’t feel obligated to only use my resources. The goal here is to really make learning about God’s true character a high priority as a first step. Just make sure the resources you’re consuming are truly biblical.
2. Let God’s Voice be the Most Powerful in Your Life
Chances are, you’re coming from a place where other people have been telling you - directly or indirectly - what to believe about God, how to think and act, what you should believe, etc.
This can also include those who have abused or manipulated you.
It can be difficult to hear anything outside of those voices. Especially if they’re loud, highly insistent, and/or belong to people we love.
Yet, as you begin to learn about God and who He truly is, that truth needs to have the most power in your life.
And as you begin to cultivate a relationship with God, and He begins to speak to you (through His Word or other sources) about how much He loves and values you; who you are to Him; and what He does and doesn’t want you to do, His voice needs to (a) be heard, and (b) given more weight than those who’ve been shouting things that don’t align with what He’s telling you.
Isaiah 45:19 (NLT) says, “I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.” (Emphasis added.)
God is the author of truth - not deception, lies, or misinformation. That’s the work of the enemy (aka Satan) and humans who happen to be off the mark.
So, as God speaks truth to you, let that truth ring louder than anything else - including past teachings, experiences, or beliefs.
Note: If you want some visual reminders of God’s character, and want something tangible near you to remind you of His voice, check out the custom designs in my RedBubble store (https://www.relateescape.com/store).
3. Cling to Jesus and Allow Him to Move You Away from the Past
As you learn about God’s true character, and let His voice ring louder into your life, you’ll naturally start moving away from where you are today. The truth always sets us free from the lies.
Yet, you need to also be willing to move forward. Humans naturally shy away from uncomfortable things, even if they’re actually better for us.
It’s why people will cling to an abusive relationship, for example, avoiding a new, unknown life despite its promise of freedom from pain and trauma.
You’re not in this alone, though. You have God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
You don’t have to stay stuck; you have everything (or everyone) you need to move forward and make amazing progress - step-by-step.
Being a Christian means to “follow Christ.” Jesus, acting on authority of the Father, knows exactly what you need to move forward such as:
How you need to heal
What you might need financially or logistically (sometimes physical distance helps with a fresh start, for example)
What bad memories you’re struggling with
Your fears or worries
What kind of support system you need
What biblical truth or knowledge you need
…just to name a few examples.
Biblical knowledge (such as knowing God’s real character) and proactive steps go hand-in-hand. Plus, this is an ongoing journey.
So, as you get to know God, ask Him to also help you know Jesus. (Which, as you study God’s character, who Jesus is will also come to light.)
Then, ask Jesus to help you (a) hear His voice through the Holy Spirit, and (b) follow where He leads.
Not only will this help with initial progress, it’ll set you up for continued progress and transformation during your entire relationship with God.
Note: If you’d like additional help learning about who Jesus is, there are several podcast episodes that focus on that exact topic. In addition, one of the mini courses I mentioned earlier will focus on Jesus. So, again, sign-up for my email list and stay tuned for more information.
3 Study Filters to Help You See God’s Absolute Love for You in the Bible
Is understanding the Bible a real struggle? Do you have a hard time seeing God’s love and goodness in what you’re reading? Do you want to believe that His love is complete and unconditional, especially as a woman, yet there seems to be contradictory information?
The good news is that these challenges can be overcome starting with a few simple study filters. Gain instant clarity and contentment!
The Bible is Both Prescriptive and Descriptive
This is something I wish I’d learned in my early days as a Christian, being that it eliminates a lot of confusion when reading the Bible.
A lot of us come from churches or religions where the entire Bible is treated as if it's prescriptive - which isn’t the case at all.
What do I mean by prescriptive?
Think of the word prescription. When you’re ill, your doctor will prescribe something for you to take. She’ll recommend a specific drug and treatment. In other words, she’s saying, “This is what I want you to do. This is how it should be.”
That’s the definition of prescriptive. It speaks to how something should be or, to be more specific regarding the Bible, how God wants it to be.
Yes, there are parts of the Bible that are prescriptive; where God is telling us how to live.
But, the Bible also contains descriptive information.
These parts of the Bible are merely describing what happened. They’re not items that God is asking us to do or things that He approves of.
For example, in the Garden of Eden, God prescribed there being one man and one woman. Yet after the fall, when sin enters the world, we read descriptive accounts of men having multiple wives. These were instances and customs that were not aligned with God’s design and desires. They’re simply being recorded as part of the stories within the Bible.
Another stark example is in Genesis 34 where we read how Dinah, the daughter of Leah and Jacob, is raped by Shechem the Hivite. God does not approve or desire rape (aka prescribe it). This is a descriptive account.
Do you see the difference?
Problems obviously arise when a church or religion does not approach the Bible through this lens.
Sometimes there’s an honest lack of knowledge regarding prescriptive versus descriptive. But sometimes, this is ignored.
Either way, what happens is that the entire Bible is treated as prescriptive - which means God’s word ends up being used for evil things like shaming women, supporting abuse, and other unGodly behaviors and beliefs.
Still, the Bible is confusing. So how can you tell whether something is prescriptive or descriptive?
Answer: The Bible does not contradict itself. What else does the Bible say about the topic in question?
Let’s revisit our multiple wives example. In the Garden of Eden, God clearly prescribed marriage as being one man and one woman.
In Genesis 2:24 we read, “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”
Also, God created one woman for Adam - not more than one.
We don’t see multiple wives until after sin has entered the world - the first account being in Genesis 4:19.
Also, as we study God’s character, we know that He is love (as it says it John 4:8). And He’s pure love, being that He’s holy - aka without sin. So, someone with holy love for you isn’t going to want you to be devalued.
Thus, we can deduce that God prescribed marriage as including one man and one woman, and the introduction of multiple wives is something that went amiss and was recorded as part of the Bible’s description of events.
If you're really having a hard time finding the answer, submit the question to me on my website.
The Bible was Written in a Different Time and Culture
The Bible is over 2,000 years old. (Some say closer to 3,000. I’m not a scholar; the point is that it was written a very, very long time ago.)
The time was different. The culture was different. Everything was different.
It’s one of the reasons why reading the Bible can be so confusing. When you don’t inherently understand the time period, its customs, or have the broader knowledge regarding events, it can be hard to follow, let alone understand.
As a result, we have a hard time reading our Bible and really understanding God, Jesus, and who we are.
We also end up being taught things as if they’re biblically true when they’re not.
I’ve done quite a few episodes that focus on sharing the real truth behind a few things we’ve been taught as women, but I’ll give you only two as examples:
Episode #34: Proverbs 31 is NOT a Biblical Checklist for Women. It’s Actually About the Responsibility of a Husband
Episode #73: 1 Corinthians 11:3 Exposed - Paul Did NOT Say Men Should Lead & Women Should Follow in the Church
When we are aware of the cultural and historical context, it can drastically change our understanding of what the Bible is saying. Which is the case with the two episodes above.
Those two areas of Scripture are often used to keep women in a specific place or stereotype. But, in reality, that’s not what was happening when they were written.
It’s not always easy to find the cultural context. But, if you come across something that doesn’t seem prescribed by God and/or contradicts other areas of the Bible, hit “pause” and do some research instead of just accepting it as truth.
This is what I did for years regarding the Proverbs 31 woman. Having that presented as an ideal woman made no sense to me given God’s love for me - and the common sense that said any woman who did those things everyday would be exhausted. So I set it aside, mentally speaking, until one day I came across the truth behind its existence.
The Bible is Not Meant to be Interpreted Through a Patriarchal Lens
Note: I’m talking about the not-so-great patriarchal mindsets and beliefs that us women come up against outside of the church.
Although, unfortunately, they can exist inside the church as well.
In an ideal world, us women could walk into any church and experience legit, 100% pure biblical teaching free of patriarchal views.
However, that’s not the reality.
In fact, as mentioned earlier, the Bible is sometimes used as a tool to support non-biblical, patriarchal views.
That’s why it’s important to implement filters such as understanding the difference between prescriptive and descriptive and educating yourself as best you can regarding the time period and culture.
Just by implementing those two things, you can start to easily identify patriarchal messages. Because those two filters will help expose them for what they are.
If you’d like additional help, I also suggest:
Listening to Episode #122 which digs deeper into this issue
Sign-up for my email list at https://bit.ly/GodLovesMeEmail so that you can be notified as soon as I launch my community later this year. Which will be community and educational material, such as topical mini courses, all in one place.
3 Bible Stories that are Examples of God’s Goodness Towards Women
Are you having a hard time finding God’s goodness in the Bible? Maybe the biblical teaching you’ve experienced has been focused on a judgmental God. Or maybe the Bible is new and confusing to you. This resource will help you see past the mysterious verses!
Take a brief - but uniquely powerful - look at three biblical stories that will provide clarity, revelation and open your eyes to great things!
1. God’s Goodness to Sarah
God was extremely good to Sarah on several occasions:
In both Genesis 12 and 20, we see God rescue her.
Genesis 12:
Sarah and Abraham traveled to Egypt due to a famine in Canaan, the land where they lived. Abraham was afraid that, because Sarah was so desirable, he’d be killed by some man who wanted her for himself.
So, instead of trusting God, he introduces Sarah as his sister.
Pharoah ends up taking her into his household to become his wife, but then God strikes plagues upon Pharaoh's household, which alerts him to who Sarah is, and she is given back to Abraham.
In Genesis 20, we see Abraham do this same thing again (of having Sarah act as his sister). And once again, God intervened by communicating the truth to the other man - this time, King Abimelech - in a dream. In verse 3 it says, “But that night God came to Him in a dream and told him, ‘You are a dead man, for that woman you took is married.’”
In both cases, God is showing goodness to Sarah and Abraham individually. But also to the nation God wanted to create from them.
We also see God’s goodness to Sarah in Genesis Chapters 15-21 regarding that very plan - and how she tried to make it her own.
In Genesis 15, God tells Abraham that he will have a son and that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars! And in verse 6, it says, “And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
Instead of trusting God, however, Sarah decides to take things into her own hands.
In Chapter 16, we read that Sarah gives Hagar, her Egyptian maid, to her husband to sleep with - the goal being for them to have a son through Hagar. (Like a surrogate mother.)
It works; Hagar gets pregnant.
But this is where things go downhill. Because Hagar’s pregnancy, and her new status, creates friction between Hagar and Sarah. The end result being that Sarah beats Hagar, causing her to run away.
In short, Sarah’s plan goes completely awry.
Yet, despite the mess Sarah made by taking things into her own hands instead of trusting God, He’s still good to her.
In Genesis 18:10, God tells Abraham that they will have a son by next year. Which is a miracle at their advanced age.
And in Genesis 21, despite Sarah laughing at His announcement in Genesis 18, God delivers on His promise.
Big Idea: Despite the sins of both Abraham and Sarah, God remained faithful and good to them. And the same is true today. No one’s sin can stop God’s goodness.
Note: It’s also worth noting that God was also good to Hagar in this situation. He met her in the desert, acknowledging her situation and feelings, while also comforting her. And supporting her so that she could return home and face her less-than-stellar situation.
2. God’s Goodness to Rahab
In Joshua 2, we meet Rahab.
Joshua sends two spies into Jericho to get the lay of the land. They end up at Rahab’s establishment.
The king sends men to get the spies. But instead of handing them over, she tells the king’s men that the spies left the city. Meanwhile, she’s hidden them on the roof.
Why? Because, as she tells the spies, she knows (as others in Jericho do) that their God - who has done mighty deeds such as parting the Red Sea - has given the land to His people.
Joshua 2:9: So, to save herself and her extended family, Rahab acts bravely by first hiding the spies and then asks that, when they take Jericho, she and her extended family are spared since she helped them. And they agree - and keep their promise.
Most of the time, Rahab is labeled and presented as a prostitute - which she was (verse 1). But she was also clearly intelligent and had some guts.
Still, what she was asking was a big risk coming from an outsider. She wasn’t an Isrealite. She was a woman (which meant she was looked down upon more so than today). And she was a prostitute.
The two spies could have very easily said no - especially since she had already hidden them and diverted the king’s men elsewhere. They could have risked slipping out of the city on their own rather than Rahab helping them down by a rope, since her building was next to the city wall (verse 15).
Instead, they agreed - and kept their promise. Rahab and her family - and all their possessions - were spared.
That’s already a large dose of God’s goodness. But it doesn’t end there.
In Matthew 1:5, which presents the genealogy of Jesus, we see that Rahab was grafted into the line of Jesus! (She married Salmon and was the mother of Boaz - who is featured in the book of Ruth.)
Big Idea: God’s goodness doesn’t extend only to those the world (or certain people within it) deem worthy. Instead, it’s available to anyone - and can include far more than we can imagine.
3. Jesus’ Goodness to the Samaritan Woman at the Well
In John Chapter 4, we see Jesus meet the Samaritan woman at the well.
It needs to be noted that the Israelites were not BFFs with the Samaritans - and vice versa. Which is why the woman starts off by saying what she does in verse 9. (Regarding her surprise that Jesus was even speaking to her, let alone asking her for water.)
This means Jesus was already breaking convention in order to bring truth and goodness to this woman. (Or, as verse 10 says in the NLT translation, “a wonderful gift for you.”)
Jesus was also meeting her at the hottest part of the day - a time when everyone would be indoors or in the shade if possible.
In verse 8, it notes that the disciples had gone into town for food. Jesus could have gone with them.
Instead, He lingered at the well, specifically waiting to speak to this woman. He put aside His own earthly comfort to bring comfort to her - of the spiritual kind. (As well as to everyone in the town who would hear the story of this conversation.)
It should also be noted that the first time Jesus openly admits that He is the Messiah was to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:25-26).
Big Idea: God loves us so much that sometimes He’ll go out of His way to give us what we really need instead of what we think we need. And at times, that can include restructuring how we look at the world and what’s truly important.
3 Easy Tips to Help You Relate to Jesus as Your Friend
Does the idea of building a friendship with Jesus feel awkward? When it comes to understanding how it works, are you stuck in uncertainty and doubt? The good news is that building a close relationship with Jesus is actually easier than you think! In fact, you can connect with Him in ways that are already familiar to you.
Discover three easy methods that you can implement today.
While Jesus is Your Lord and Savior, He is Also Your Friend
John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:15 (NLT): “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”
1. Talk to Jesus About Your Life
One of the mainstays of a friendship, especially for us women, is to talk with our best friends.
When something goes wrong, we give them a call or a text.
When we achieve something, we want to celebrate and tell them all about it.
When we’re trying to process something - a decision or a difficult situation - we bend their ears.
When we need something, we reach out.
You can do all of these things - and more - with Jesus.
You don’t have to stop talking with your friends - just add Jesus to your list.
Trust me, Jesus is interested in it all. He doesn’t mind:
Logical processing
Emotional monologues
Urgent prayers.
Jesus wants to be your best friend.
Helpful Note: If you need some tips on how to pray/talk to Jesus, check out Episode #112.
However, I will say that:
It doesn’t have to be complicated.
There’s no formula required.
You can talk to Jesus just like you would your human friends.
The location doesn’t matter. (I’ve talked to Jesus while lying in bed, driving in my car, or sitting at the kitchen table.).
2. Spend Time with Jesus
Spending time with our friends is another natural part of the relationship:
Heart-to-heart talks
Doing fun activities
Taking a road trip
These things allow us to connect, communicate, and build memories.
It might sound strange, but you can do these things with Jesus as well.
Time with Jesus doesn’t just have to be about reading your Bible or doing a Bible study. (Though those things are important.)
Your relationship with Jesus can go beyond those things.
You can invite Jesus into the experience by:
Talking to Him during it (even if it’s just in your head)
You can ask Him to show up somehow during the activity
You can sing worship music that praises Him
You can decide to do an activity that helps other people (that you know He cares about, too).
Just think about what activities you like to do with your friends - brunch at a restaurant, a fun hike, etc. - and add Jesus to the guest list.
Or make Him the only guest - just Him and you.
The big idea here is to invite Him into your life. Connect with Him. Include Him. Make space for Him. And intentionally build memories with Him.
3. Be Yourself with Jesus
Real friendships are ones where we can be ourselves. Where we don’t feel as if we have to be someone else or fit into someone else’s mold.
We can also share whatever is happening in our lives.
On good days, we have it all together. On bad days, we’re a hot mess.
Either way, our true friends still love us, support us, and remain steadfast in our lives.
It’s the same with Jesus.
God doesn’t desire perfection.
One, because it’s not realistic.
And two, because such an expectation or requirement isn’t loving. And God is love, as it says in John 4:8.
So, as you’re talking to Jesus about your life and spending time with Him, just be yourself. Be the unique woman God created you to be.
And if you’re in a good place, having a good day, great.
If you’re in a not-so-great place - full of things like anxiety, fear, or pain - don’t hide it. (He can see it anyway.) Just keep it real with Him.