Every Good Gift

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (James 1:17-18)

Every good and perfect gift comes to believers from above. This is a recurring theme in the Book of James. He wants us to be able to differentiate between that which is of God and that which is not. In James' mind, nothing good rises up to God from us; but if it is good, it is of God and from God, and there are no exceptions.

Everything in the service of God must be born of Jesus within us, or it is not spiritual in essence but something less. James speaks of this as "the meekness of wisdom," which is quite different from the forceful and strident spirit of some Christians. He calls worldly wisdom earthly, sensual, and demonic. The tell-tale signs of this type of spirit are envy, selfishness, confusion, and every other evil thing. God has called us to something much better. He has called us to Himself in Jesus, and He has given us the Holy Spirit who will never relent until we are perfected in Him. The Lord is producing good fruit in us, and that fruit is evidence of the holy seed He has planted in our hearts -- purity, gentleness, humility, mercy, productivity, and impartiality.

James teaches us this lesson, so we might have the greatest of clarity, and we might know and understand what is spiritual and what is not. There will always be evidence and fruit from the wisdom in which we choose to walk. So, let us be sure our wisdom is from above and our fruit is good.

Let's Pray - Dear Father, we gladly receive everything You pour out upon us. We look to You daily, for all good things come down from heaven. We love You. Amen.