WHERE ALL GOOD GIFTS COME FROM

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all He created.

James 1:17-18

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Think about any good thing you have ever received.

Maybe it has been an unexpected blessing of money, a car, or something else that was badly needed.

Maybe you received news of healing from an affliction. I’ve never had cancer but I can’t imagine how incredible it is to hear the word “remission” and the ensuing classic ringing of the bell after leaving the treatment facility for the final time.

Maybe you welcomed a new child into the world, becoming a parent for the first time or again, and, of course, where there are parents, there are usually grandparents feeling excited and grateful or even great-grandparents who are experiencing the gift of longevity in this worldly life.

Maybe you have some talent, like the ability to sing, play an instrument well, write, draw, play sports, or work in some special capacity within a career field.

And then there are gifts that others bless us with, some expected and some not.

Our birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Father’s/Mother’s Days bring thoughtful gifts of love from family and friends. But at other times, maybe someone does something wonderful for you when you least expected it. I know I often just bring a dozen roses home for my wife, not because it’s a special occasion but rather to just remind her how much I love her. And when I am at a store, I often will pay for the person’s item or items who are behind me in the checkout line. I remember there was one time I did this when the woman behind me began to cry because of my generosity and kindness. She shared that there had been a death in her family and she was buying things for the funeral reception. I had no idea about that but you know who did?

Our Almighty God...and He wanted to bless that woman with a gift through me.

Friends, this needs to be the way we view any good thing that happens to us. We need to see it as a perfect gift from God because as we see in our scripture verses from James, chapter 1 today, He is the source of all good gifts. James writes this to his audience, the first century Hebrew Christians:

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all He created. Vv. 17-18

God’s word to us is crystal clear. He tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from Him, the “Father of the heavenly lights” and so we should fist give thanks to Him anytime we experience a blessing in our life, no matter what that blessing is.

This passage also reminds us of one more special gift that God has given every single Christian and that’s the blessing of being born again, something that has to happen for someone to come to salvation. Here’s what Jesus said about it as He spoke with Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin council:

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a Teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with Him.”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into Heaven except the One who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.”

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:1-18

Jesus makes it clear that before a person can enter Heaven, the very Kingdom of God, they must be reborn into the Holy Spirit and that only happens when someone places their belief in Jesus as Savior. Consider these words of the Lord spoken through the Apostle Paul as he writes in the eighth chapter of his letter to the Romans:

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. Vv. 9-17

When someone chooses to believe in Jesus, they are reborn, becoming a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)  while gaining many good and perfect gifts from the God who provides them all.

1. They belong to Christ Jesus.

2. They receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who leads them away from spiritual death to righteous spiritual living and the assurance of eternal life which is number 3.

3. They gain the saving of their souls and the assurance of blessed eternal life with God the Father and His Son, the Savior Jesus.

4. They become a child of the God Most High, and kinsperson to Jesus, His Son.

5. They gain an inheritance to Heaven, the Kingdom of God, as co-heirs with Christ Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, God lavishes us with good gifts and in response, we should do nothing less than show Him perpetual gratitude, lifting up our praise to Him. Satan wants to keep you from this by shining a spotlight on all the negative things in your life. Counter his efforts by counting your blessings every day and you will constantly be reminded of how very gracious the Lord has been to you, not just in the present but rather guaranteeing you will be blessed for all eternity.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.