DAILY ENCOUNTER

EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT 

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17 

Glory to God! Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above, comes from God. This means that nothing good in your life came out of nowhere. The air you breathe, the food on your table, the talent you have, the opportunities you got, and the people who helped you along the way, all of these ultimately came from the Father of Glory. Many people congratulate themselves when things go well, and they say it is because of their hard work and intelligence. We should work hard and use our minds, but Moses warned Israel that when they became prosperous, they should not say, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' He said, 'Thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.' Even the ability to work is a gift. Strength, health, and the ability to make good decisions all come from Him. When we realise that everything is a gift, pride has no place in our hearts, and gratitude becomes natural. A man who knows that he did not make himself, did not give himself breath, and did not create the opportunities that came his way will always have a thankful heart.

Apostle James calls God the Father of lights. God has no variableness, neither shadow of turning. He does not change. Seasons change, governments change, and friends change, but God remains the same. That is a great comfort, because it means the same God who was good yesterday is good today. His goodness does not depend on our mood, and it does not fluctuate with our circumstances. The scripture wants us to be clear about the nature of God: He gives only good and perfect gifts. When you receive something that is destructive, it did not come from Him. Every good thing is a fingerprint of the Father, and every destructive thing has a different source. So, today, look at what you have, and trace it back to the Giver. Thank Him for the visible gifts and the invisible ones. Thank Him for the gift of Jesus, the greatest gift of all. Without Him, we would have no salvation, no hope, and no home in heaven. And remember that if every good gift comes from Him, then everything we will need in the future will come from Him as well. Hallelujah!!!

FURTHER STUDY

Deuteronomy 8:17-18; Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 9:15 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Do I acknowledge God as the source of my achievements, or do I sometimes take the credit myself?
2. What good gift in my life have I never properly thanked God for?

PRAYERS

Father, thank You for Your word. Thank You for every good and perfect gift that I have received from You. Help me to remain grateful and humble in Jesus's name. Amen