Tov = holistic goodness

God is good

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1‍ 

The LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence.
Exodus 33:19

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17

The crisis of faith we all face is believing that God is actually good.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Genesis 3:1-6

God never stops chasing after us with God’s goodness.

"The word gospel could be translated as “the message of tov.”  The gospel is about God’s tov coming to us in Jesus, who is tov, and thus making us into agents of tov."
‍— Scot McKnight

Bottom Line

We are to be agents of goodness in the world.

In everything set an example by doing what is good.
Titus 2:7

Brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
2 Thessalonians 3:13

Let us not become weary in doing good
Galatians 6:9

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

How do we grow in goodness?

Create space to experience God’s transforming goodness.

The best way to experience God’s goodness is to go to God in your badness.

Action Steps:

Create some space to experience God’s transforming goodness by going to God in your badness.

• Identify a moment that you are not proud of at some point this week.
• Take that moment to God in prayer trusting that God is good and for your good.
• Sit and be open to God communicating God’s love, forgiveness, and affection for you.
• Rest in and receive God’s goodness right at the center of your mistake.

Continue to pray this prayer every morning this week:‍

Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.