God is a giver. In-fact every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Some of us may be familiar with the scriptures that speak on this point, but how often do we truly stop to consider the implications of what they are saying? Do we really believe and understand that every good gift actually comes from God?
In this study today, I would like to share with you just how deep and wonderful this truth of God actually is; and as we see it together, we will be able to appreciate the ultimate gift of Jesus Christ and His Grace, all the more.
As we begin today, let’s first read an amazing bit of scripture, which some may be familiar with, but few actually stop to meditate on. It’s found in James 1:17:
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no ficklenss, neither shadow of turning.”
We can spend a great amount of time just analyzing and digging deep into this one single verse! And as mentioned in the opening, the very first word of the verse is important… Every. Truly every single good and perfect gift is from God. Many of us have a difficult time believing this statement, but the scripture leaves no room for error or doubt on this point.
Now I placed emphasis on the words “Every” and “good and perfect gift” because these are the areas where we generally have the most trouble believing. In-fact there are entire sects and denominations of Christianity today who teach and believe that God gives evil to people for a variety of reasons, either as a punishment or as a test of their faith, or whatever the latest popular reason is today.
However, what we can see here (as well as other places in scripture) is that God does no such thing. He has no reason to lay any evil or burden upon us today, whether as a punishment or a test, because those things were already fully and completely laid upon Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53:5). In-fact let’s take a look at that verse really quickly, because it’s a vital part of the point that James 1:17 is trying to make:
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Take notice of what this is saying here. That the chastisement for our peace was laid upon Jesus. If you take this statement to be true, then you should also realize that God is not going to chastise Jesus in your place and then turn around and also chastise you. Jesus did not pay the price for Himself! He paid the price for you! So your debt to God has been completely paid and settled for all time. Your slate is forever eternally clean.
There are so many people who still feel as though God is punishing them, or putting them through tests and trials, and they have yet to fully see the wonderful reality that God has already punished Jesus, and He was thoroughly tested as the spotless Lamb!
And this is the point of it all. Jesus took upon Himself all of the bad that we deserved… all of the evil that was due to us – and in return, He has given to us all of the blessings that He deserved, and all of the good that was due to Him. (1st Thessalonians 5:10, Romans 4:25)
So returning to our first text from James 1:17, we now understand why the first part of the verse is true – that indeed, every good and perfect gift is from God.
Now moving on to the second part of the verse, we also see that it comes from the Father of lights. This is not the Father of darkness we are talking about here. That may seem overly obvious, but you may be surprised to learn how many people expect God to behave as the father of darkness would! As mentioned they expect Him to be angry, intimidating and fear-inducing. They expect Him to have violent mood-swings; to rain-down smiting and curses, and all manner of consequences whenever we fail to measure up. But again, as we have already seen today, this is where remembering the sacrifice of Christ will allow us to see the truth clearly here.
Take notice of the details here… with whom is no fickleness, or shadow of turning.
This is another important point regarding the good and perfect gifts which God gives. God is not fickle He doesn’t change from moment to moment. He doesn’t give you blessings one moment and then turn around and shower you with curses the next. He’s not playing games with your existence.
Regardless of whatever angle you view Him from, regardless of which way you try to turn Him, if you are seeing Him clearly, you will never see a shadow in Him – there will never be even a hint of darkness. This is the goodness of God, this is His Grace and His mercy to you.
Now I want us to return to that first word of the verse again: Every. Let’s stop and consider what this actually is telling us for a few moments; because as we do that, we will see just how good and generous God really is.
When most people think about the gifts of God, they think of “big things”, such as major healings, big miracles, and things along those lines… but for a few moments here, let’s look a bit deeper at some things that we usually fail to consider.
The so-called “little-things” throughout the day, such as a thought or event that makes you laugh, or any thought at all that brings a smile to your face, warmth to your heart; and especially any thought that reminds you of the finished work of Christ, and your new identity in Him – something which we are usually so inclined to forget in day-to-day life.
Do you realize that without the Holy Spirit of Christ at work in us, we would have absolutely zero ability to think anything good? Those good thoughts, that moment of joy, that happiness, and those times when you remember Jesus, and your identity in Christ – none of that actually comes from you yourself; you cannot take any credit for any of that. It is all a good and perfect gift from your Father in Heaven to you.
Consider that even way back in Genesis 6:5, it is recorded that God saw that every imagination and thought of mankind was only evil continually. So we can see that the only reason we ever even have any good and pleasant and righteous thought, is because of the influence of the Holy Spirit of God in our life.
Furthermore let’s consider healing. Again, most people only take notice of what we consider the “larger” healings, such as from terminal illnesses or regeneration of body parts (both of which I have seen by the way). However, have you stopped to consider that any healing or recovery at all, even from minor things such as “the common cold” or a broken bone, or a slight headache… all of it, is a gift from your Father in Heaven, empowered by His Spirit?
Consider verses such as Romans 8:11:
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.”
To quicken means “to regenerate, rejuvenate, and revitalize”. To regenerate what has been lost, to rejuvenate, what ever has been failing, and to revitalize what has been lacking in life or vitality.
And notice that this is not talking about your glorified body up in Heaven as some mistake it to be referring to; but this is talking about your mortal body that is your body here on this earth right now!
So that paper-cut that healed yesterday? Even that is a regeneration from the Spirit of God – a gift from your Father in Heaven.
That boost of energy that you felt today? That too was a revitalization from the Spirit of God – a gift from your Father in Heaven.
Even youthful appearance, that some people chase after and spend fortunes on… that also comes from God, it is a rejuvenation by His Spirit. Sarah had it, even so much that a pagan king wanted her… it’s all a gift from God.
So I encourage you today, in the generosity and the goodness and the grace and mercy of God in Christ Jesus. Remember that ever good and perfect gift is from your Father. The big things, and the “little” things as well.
Be blessed.