"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."
James 1:17
Part 2
Yesterday:
“Every good gift.”
God loves to give gifts.
“And every perfect gift.”
His gifts to us are always perfect.
Today:
“Is from above,”
What a great God we serve! Under “common grace” He pours out good gifts on the unbelievers also. And yet, their eyes and hearts are blinded to His goodness.
“Whatever is good is from God; whatever is evil is from man himself” [1] (Clarke).
“All the good things of our lives are from His good hand. He is not fickle and changeable. Even our sin cannot make Him turn away. His sun still shines on the evil and the good, and His rain descends on the just and the unjust” [2] (Meyer).
“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
“And cometh down from the Father of lights,”
God is light. And He is the “Father” of lights. These “lights” here are referring to the celestial bodies, the sun, moon, and stars. These lights shine on and on perpetually, even in the daylight hours, when we cannot see them. Just because we cannot see them, it doesn’t mean they have stopped shining. The same is true of God’s goodness. Just because you are going through a rough time in your life, it does not mean that He has stopped being good. All good gifts come from Him. The “Father of lights” is still shining.
“From God, the source and fountain of all light. Light, in the Scriptures, is the emblem of knowledge, purity, happiness; and God is often represented as light” [3] (Barnes).
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
“With whom is no variableness,”
Aren’t you glad that God’s goodness is continuous? He never takes a break from being the God that is “good.” This is who He is, always. “He is good all the time.” There is no “unpredictability” in His goodness.
“Neither shadow of turning.”
Our great God is all light, and with Him, there are no shadows.
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. [4]
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
PS Husbands: do your best with your gift selections. But be encouraged that our God never gets it wrong.
Dear Lord, thank you for all of your faithful gifts to us!
[1] Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] F.B. Meyer. Through the Bible Day by Day, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] Barnes, ibid.
[4] “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” first verse and chorus. Lyrics: Thomas Obediah Chisholm (1866-1960); Music: William Marion Runyan (1870-1957). Copyright Status: © 1923. Ren. 1951 Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188, www.hopepublishing.com. All rights reserved.