Perfect Gifts

James 1:16-18 ⁽¹⁶⁾Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ⁽¹⁷⁾Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ⁽¹⁸⁾He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (NIV)

            Throughout the year, many people love to celebrate specials occasions in honor of the ones they love. From birthdays to anniversaries, bridal showers to retirement parties, people are in love with the idea of giving gifts as part of their way of saying, “I love and/or celebrate you.” The greatest gift, however, that man could have ever received was given to us by our Heavenly Father. That gift was the free gift of Salvation by sending His one and only son down to earth to save us from our sins. What a great gift it was.

            A gift from the Father, who was so in love with His children that He gave the ultimate sacrifice, so that we may live. Oh, this was no ordinary sacrifice. It would be one of pain, suffering, humiliation, and extreme brutality. This gift was unfortunately accepted by only a few and yet, rejected by many. Still today, so many more people would rather reject the gift instead of accepting the freedom in Christ that it offers.

            The Apostle James helps us to understand that every good gift that we receive comes from the Lord. He is the giver of good things and He only asks that we acknowledge all that He does for us. Ephesians 2:8-9 ⁽⁸⁾For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁽⁹⁾not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV) Some people make the mistake of thinking that when God blesses them, it is because of some greatness within themselves. However, nothing could be further from the truth. God gives to His children because He loves us and not because we deserve it. There is nothing good in man, for our ways are evil beyond the scope of God. Isaiah 64:6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (NIV)

        God not only gives tangible gifts, but He gives gifts of wisdom and knowledge as well as other gifts if we ask. God is a loving Father and even though He may not always give us the things we ask for, He does give us what we need when we are in need of it. All good things come from God, but He will never give anything that does not line up with His will or goes against His laws. All you have to do is ask the Giver of gifts and allow Him to bless you in accordance to His perfect will. 

The Book of James: 30 Days of Devotion for Men by K L Rich is available on Amazon.com.