The Bible Edge
Random Thoughts of a Spiritual Nature II
James 1:17
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.
By now you have probably received at least one gift. Hopefully the person who purchased that gift must have thought that it was the perfect gift for you. Also, by now others have probably opened a gift that you purchased for them. Again, hopefully you found the perfect gift for them. This is the nature of giving and receiving gifts. Some gifts are big, some small, some cost a lot of money, some are home made and cost little in dollars but much in time, effort, skill, and love. Gifts are as different as the people receiving them and giving them is different. No matter the gift, there are some things that all gifts have in common.
There is a giver. The giver decides which gift to give. They pay for the gift. They usually wrap the gift. And they give the gift.
There is a receiver. The receiver receives the gift. It is hard to imagine but some gifts are not received. Some are rejected. Consider the gift of love. One person may give love to another only to have that love rejected. For a gift to be received it has to be accepted, opened, and used to obtain the full benefit of the gift as desired by the giver. For example, I like to receive golf balls. This is not a romantic gift or an expensive gift, but it is a gift that I enjoy receiving. I don’t get to play much golf but when I do, I lose a lot of golf balls. Golf balls that are not used are there, waiting to be used, but the benefit of the gift is not recognized until they are hit with a golf club. Many receivers have received gifts, opened them, looked at them, and yet never benefit from them by using them. How many times have you received a gift, put it away and over time forget all about it?
Then there is the gift. The item that has been shopped for, thought about, purchased, wrapped, given, open, and hopefully used. The gift. It’s all about the actual gift. No giver desires the gift to be forgotten, not used, or rejected.
God gives humans gifts. Some are abstract, such as understanding for example, some are tangible, they can be seen and handled, but they are gifts. Many gifts are given by God to all the people of the world. All these gifts in their intended forms are good, perfect, and from above. As sure as God never changes, these gifts never change. They are given without repentance (Romans 11:29) meaning He never changes His mind and takes His gifts back or makes them null or void.
One such gift is the gift of eternal life. He gives the gift, a receiver must receive it, and it is to be used. Used daily in this life and used forever in the next. Other gifts He gives are love, forgiveness, understanding, acceptance, power, prayer, your church, your pastor, your spouse, sunlight, photosynthesis, rain, oxygen, the Holy Spirit…. on and on and on and on the list goes. These are perfect gifts meant to be received, enjoyed, treasured, and understood. Of all the gifts you may receive today, know this, perhaps the most perfect one will be the day. He has given you today, it’s a gift from God to you; use it appropriately.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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