Winter Fire – Everlasting Father - friday
Today’s Verse
James 1:17a
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. (NLT)
Several years ago, my small group started the tradition of having a white elephant gift exchange every year. What started as a fun gift exchange slowly descended into a contest to see who could bring the weirdest, most impractical gift possible. There was one gift that no one has been able to top: one year, one of the couples gifted a mirrored glass headboard that had a giant picture of Elvis etched in the glass. Not only was it a completely ridiculous and impractical gift, but it was huge!! It was, to this day, one of the worst gifts I’ve ever received. (Although it is one of the funniest gifts I’ve been given.)
When I go into a white elephant gift exchange, I expect bad gifts. That’s what they’re all about! But God doesn’t gift that way: every gift we have been given from God is good and perfect. He knows and gifts what we need, though it may not necessarily be what we want.
That means—most importantly—we can trust our Everlasting Father! He’s not going to try and trick us with a bad gift. He’s not out to make our life harder or trip us up. He is a loving Father and cares for us. Just look at His track record. He gave us creation with trees that change colors through the seasons. He gave us blue skies and green grass. He gave us His own Son when our mistakes brought sin into that perfect creation. He gave us eternal life by allowing that Gift to be sacrificed on the cross in our place. And He gave us the Holy Spirit as a helper and counselor to be with us here on Earth. We can trust Him, because as James says, God’s gifts are “good and perfect.”
REFLECTION
Take some time today to thank God for His gifts. Spend some time reflecting on all the gifts He’s given you. Make a list and put it somewhere you’ll see it regularly. Keep it as a reminder of all He has done for you and use it to help you trust Him in the future!