NIV Once-A-Day At the Table Family DevotionalSample

Oh Goody!

• What does the word good mean?
• Name five things that are good. What makes them good?

The word good is a bit vague in our language. We use it to describe everything that’s average in our lives. “How was your day today?” “Good.” “How did you sleep last night?” “Good.” “How was your peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich?” “Good.” So when we say, “God is good,” what are we really saying?

The Hebrew word that is translated “good” in this verse meant pleasant, agreeable to the senses, excellent, valuable, kind and morally correct. It was a word packed with meaning, not an empty one!

God is difficult to describe. He is certainly not average. He is perfect. He is all the goodness we can imagine — ​and even more. Nothing about God is bad, evil or impure — ​everything about God is good.

And not only is God good, but he wants what’s good for us. And there’s nothing average about that either. God’s idea of good may not mean easy or comfortable, but it will get us to where he wants us to be, which is right where we need to be.

Dear God, we praise you for your goodness. Thank you for wanting what’s good in our lives. Give us the vision to recognize the goodness of your plans. Amen.