James 1:17 - Every Good and Perfect Gift Comes From God.
James 1:17 (NIV) 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 (NLT) Whatever is good and
perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who
created all the lights in the heavens. He never
changes or casts a shifting shadow.
INTRODUCTION
The heart of God yearns over His earthly
children with a love stronger than death. In giving
up His Son, He has poured out to us all heaven
in one gift. The Saviour's life and death and
intercession, the ministry of angels, the pleading of the
Spirit, the Father working above and through all,
the unceasing interest of heavenly beings,--all
are enlisted in behalf of man's redemption. {SC
21}
In vain are men's dreams of progress, in
vain all efforts for the uplifting of humanity,
if they neglect the one Source of hope and help
for the fallen race. "Every good gift and every
perfect gift" (James 1:17) is from God. There is no
true excellence of character apart from Him. And
the only way to God is Christ. He says, "I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6. {SC
21.1}
COMMENTARY PEARL
My husband, Scott, and I have a family
tradition of giving our sons big surprises when they
turn sixteen. We choose experiences that
encourage their creativity and fill them with joy.
When our son Jack turned sixteen, we surprised
him with tickets for him and. Scott to see
Hamilton, the acclaimed Broadway show. Jack had
memorized the musical's soundtrack months before, and
his excitement was palpable. For our son Will's
birthday, we promised to buy him a piano once we moved
to Idaho. (A used piano on Craigslist. We have
our limits!) Hearing Will play for hours on end
has been a gift for all of us. Our son Addison
has two years before he turns sixteen, but I'm
already pondering the perfect gift. I love
surprising the people I love with good gifts. It brings
me a whole lot of Joy.
Jesus feels the same way. He is the giver
of good and perfect gifts. He got that trait
from His heavenly Father. Jesus knows me inside
and out. The hopes and dreams that fill my
thoughts. The big and small desires of my heart. And
unlike me, He has no limits. He provides amazing,
life-altering gifts. He begins by offering forgiveness,
mercy, and a new way of living. He delights in us.
His love surrounds us. And that's just the
beginning. Susanna Foth Aughtmon
Faith Step: In the spirit of Jesus, give
a loved one a thoughtful gift, like a
hand-written note or gift card. Prepare to feel His joy!
[Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Heaven Rules
Ancient Babylon was a spectacular kingdom
that included one of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. One
day Babylons ruler, King Nebuchadnezzar, was
surveying the city from his balcony.
He said, Look at this great city of
Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this
beautiful city as my royal residence to display my
majestic splendor (Daniel 4:30 NLT).
The Bible tells us that while those words
were still in the kings mouth, a voice came
from Heaven saying, O King Nebuchadnezzar,
this message is for you! You are no longer ruler
of this kingdom. You will be driven from human
society Seven periods of time will pass while
you live this way, until you learn that the Most
High rules over the kingdoms of the world and
gives them to anyone he chooses (verses 31"32
NLT).
Nebuchadnezzar took personal credit for
what God gave him the ability to do.
We can work hard, save, and invest
wisely. We can have the ability to buy our own food
and clothes and make payments on a car or house.
Rather than congratulate ourselves on what a good
job we are doing, lets realize that God has
given us everything we have.
Deuteronomy 8:18 says, Remember the
Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power
to be successful (NLT). And James 1:17
reminds us, Whatever is good and perfect is a
gift coming down to us from God our Father, who
created all the lights in the heavens (NLT).
If God has blessed you in your business
or career, if He has blessed your family, if He
has blessed you with good health, dont give
the glory to your great dedication, your shrewd
investments, or the health-food store. Give the glory to
God. Its a blessing from Him. [Greg Laurie
from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
Start Your Day with Gratitude
Experts say that the attitude you have
for the day is set in the first eight minutes of
your day. Do you want to grumble, gripe, and
grunt your way through the day, or do you want to
be grateful?
The Bible says, "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 NIV).
Gratitude gets you to focus on your
loving Father who meets all your needs.
Dont start your day with confession or
requests. Start with gratitude. Think about God and
his goodness. Tell him hes a good Father,
thanking him for being caring, close, and consistent.
List the ways hes been good to you. Tell him
what youre thankful for: running water, bed
and a blanket, a warm house when it's cold and a
cold house when it's hot outside. You dont
have to worry about the right thing to say. Just
say what you feel and whats on your mind.
One of the ways you can start your day
with thankfulness is to make a playlist of songs.
Choose songs of gratitude that remind you of who
God is and what he has done for you. Turn it on
as soon as you open your eyes so that your
first thoughts are grateful. Worship is the best
way to wake up!
You can also make a list of the things
youre thankful for and keep it near your bed or
wherever you have a quiet time. A gratitude list can
help keep you focused on Gods goodness, and
then you can pour out your heart to him in
thanks.
When you wake every morning, make sure
the first thing youre doing is thanking God
for his consistent love and recalling all the
ways that he's good to you.
Get up with gratitude. It will change
everything about your day! [Daily Devotional by Rick
Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
CLOSING THOUGHT from ILLUSTRATION in NATURE
God had provided for His people a
sanctuary of awful grandeur, befitting the mighty
truths committed to their trust. To those faithful
exiles the mountains were an emblem of the
immutable righteousness of Jehovah. They pointed their
children to the heights towering above them in
unchanging majesty, and spoke to them of Him with whom
there is no variableness nor shadow of turning,
whose word is as enduring as the everlasting
hills. God had set fast the mountains and girded
them with strength; no arm but that of Infinite
Power could move them out of their place. In like
manner He had established His law, the foundation
of His government in heaven and upon earth. The
arm of man might reach his fellow men and
destroy their lives; but that arm could as readily
uproot the mountains from their foundations, and
hurl them into the sea, as it could change one
precept of the law of Jehovah, or blot out one of
His promises to those who do His will. In their
fidelity to His law, God's servants should be as firm
as the unchanging hills.
The mountains that girded their lowly
valleys were a constant witness to God's creative
power, and a never-failing assurance of His
protecting care. Those pilgrims learned to love the
silent symbols of Jehovah's presence. They indulged
no repining because of the hardships of their
lot; they were never lonely amid the mountain
solitudes. They thanked God that He had provided for
them an asylum from the wrath and cruelty of men.
They rejoiced in their freedom to worship before
Him. Often when pursued by their enemies, the
strength of the hills proved a sure defense. From
many a lofty cliff they chanted the praise of
God, and the armies of Rome could not silence
their songs of thanksgiving. {GC 66}
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
James 1:17a - Every Good and Perfect Gift
Comes From God.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2007/20071122-1012.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
