“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
Sparkling Advent #12: Every Good and Perfect Gift (James 1:17)
Merry Christmas! I hope that you are having a wonderful day celebrating the birth of Jesus. As presents are piled up around the tree, let’s remember today that every gift we have in this life is from God.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
Have you ever gotten a really bad gift? Maybe it was bad because you desperately wanted something else and were disappointed or maybe it demonstrated the gift-giver doesn’t know you at all. Perhaps it showed a lack of care or disregard for your feelings.
God does not give those kinds of gifts. His gifts are good and perfect. He doesn’t lurk in the shadows, pulling the strings of bad things happening. He is the Father of lights, showering us with gift after gift.
He planned from the very beginning of creation to send the ultimate gift of Jesus because He knew we could not stay sinless and holy on our own. His care for us through the Savior was prophesied down to small details hundreds of times throughout the Old Testament. Jesus, the ultimate gift, fulfilled them all!
Action Step:
Read Luke 2:1-20 today and think about how many things had to happen at the right time in the right order for the prophecies about the Messiah to be fulfilled in Jesus and thank God for His ultimate gift!
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.
4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!
15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.
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Prayer:
Dear God, Open our eyes to the wonders of Your gifts to us that are good and perfect. Everything we have is from Your hand. Thank you for Your blessings and especially thank You for the gift of Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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