James: Every good thing
Welcome to the weekly lift number 85, Tuesday 14th December 2021, as we continue in thankfulness through the New Testament. Today we look at the letter of James: "every good thing".
Christmas draws near, and many of us might be imagining the gifts we might receive. But many are probably also stressed about getting good presents for everyone else!
It's difficult to find the right gift. There's nothing worse than the thought of someone returning your gift or "re-gifting" it to someone else. That's why my recommendation is to always engrave a gift with the person's name and a personal message, and they'll never be able to give it away! (Except to someone who has the same name, of course).
James 1 warns us not to be deceived by the gifts of the world:
James 1:16-17
16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
The world's gifts can often look good, enticing, tempting... but they can also lead us into sin (see verse 15). James encourages us not to be deceived by the gifts of the world. God is the one who gives good and perfect gifts. What he gives will never lead us away from him. He can be trusted and he never changes.
Maybe there's someone you know who will give you a great present this Christmas - perhaps because they ALWAYS give you a good present. And if so, I imagine you really look forward to receiving that present from them. You trust them. You can depend on them to give you something good. They probably know you really well. They probably care about you. They probably want the best for you. These characteristics make someone a good gift-giver!
This is God. Trustworthy. Never changing. Cares for us. Wants the best for us.
Gifts should not be about fulfilling an obligation to exchange presents. Gifts should be about wanting the best for a person. Wanting to see them cared for. Wanting them to have what will help them and add value to their life.
God is the ultimate gift giver. His greatest gift is Jesus, His only son. Given for us to set us free from sin. Why? Because God knows us and cares for us and wants to give us what is best for us. This is the same with all of the everyday gifts he gives us. His Word. His presence through the Holy Spirit. His blessings and peace.
James 1:18
18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
God gave us birth through His word of truth. We are his fruit, His first fruits. It is through God's Word that we come to know God and draw close to him. This is how we live as children of God. And through his Word made flesh, Jesus, we can enter into this personal relationship. God doesn't just give us some gift. He gifts us a relationship. Good gifts come from good relationships. May you be blessed with good relationships this Christmas season, especially with your heavenly Father.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word and for speaking into my life every day. Thank you for your Word made flesh, Jesus, who gives me the gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Thank you for bringing me into a relationship with you for all eternity. Amen.