James 1:17 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. New King James Version (NKJV)
Today's verse is one of my favorite verses for many reasons. It is a reminder that all good, perfect gifts come from God. Take a pause, think about your life and the perfect gifts which you have received. You may start with your spouse, kids, grandchildren, your vocation or any number of things.
I recently heard this verse quoted in a sermon and the quote stopped after "coming down from God the Father". It was not wrong, but what was omitted, is very important to me, especially as written in the NKJV, "with whom there is no shadow of turning".
When you think about a shadow, you may think of it as something fleeting and changeable. The longer the shadow the easier it is to detect movement. If God's light is shining on us our slightest movement away from Him is easily noticed. But the source of the light doesn't change. There is no variation, not even a hint of it with God. He is faithful. The verse always reminds me of one of the greatest hymns, "Great is They Faithfulness".
"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.
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
"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!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
"Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!
Take a few moments this morning to think about those "perfect gifts" in your life, praise God for them, and be looking for the new mercies the new gifts that He has for you today.
James 1:17
The Message (MSG)
16-18 So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
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