James 1:17 (KJV)
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 (MSG)
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.
Our lives are fraught with activities and busy schedules. If you are raising a young family and you are a working Mom, you have to deal with work, then homework, little league, band practice or piano lessons, ballet and the list goes on. Then it’s dinner and then the husband and his needs. If you are a single parent, the matters get worse because you have to do it all by yourself. Men deal with financial, marital and job related issues that tend to stress them out and emasculate them. Then factor in all the extended relationships including the church ones that are stressful. Those of us that are self-employed deal with a host of issues that can keep us zoned into a world where we are disconnected from everything though we are there physically.
Young people are faced with so many very adult issues that the rate of suicides is increasing exponentially. Peer pressures, direction for life, premature sexual involvements and unwanted pregnancies. The list is long and frustrating even for affected parents.
Our minds can become saturated with all these dizzying activities and issues until we become so stressed and pre-occupied with ourselves that we lose sight of God, His grace, His power and His love for us. We start thinking and acting like it’s all about us. We start depending on ourselves and work in our own strength. When we finally hear ourselves we sound like this “….All I have to do;….I am doing everything and nobody is helping me;….If I don’t do it, it will not get done…….”
Have you looked up lately? Our text says “Every good gift and every perfect gift” are coming down from above, from our heavenly Father. Even the things that we are able to do are still coming from Him. He is the one that sent us and gave us the ability to do all that we are doing. The truth is that we have lost sight of Him in the process of doing.
Have you looked up lately, to behold the greatness of your Father, so His love and strength can cover you again? Haven’t you busied yourself to self effort where you are doing the Will of God in your own strength? Have you looked up lately to see the streams of God’s Light of grace and refreshing coming down to fill you? Or have you allowed your mind to be incarcerated with the attacks of the enemy and challenges of life?
Look UP, Beloved! There are good gifts coming down everyday. The psalmist says “He loads us down daily with benefits.” Have you considered your benefit plan lately – His all sufficient grace?
Don’t blame God for your ills. He didn’t cause them or send them. He is a sovereign God and there are so many reasons things are allowed in our lives. But if God sent them directly, it will be a good and perfect gift. Beloved, it is coming down. Look UP! The answer is not on the ground or in your circumstances nor in people. It is coming down from the throne. From your heavenly Father. Pay attention to His credentials: He is your Father; He is totally loving, Holy and Righteous in all His ways. His throne is established in Righteousness and Judgement. There is no deceitfulness in God. He does not change (Malachi 3:6). He is not fickle nor double-minded.
Look UP today, Beloved. Your gifts are waiting. The rivers of light are waiting to flood your mind with revelation and peace. You will get all your work done today with joy. How? Start worshipping and praising God. Get in His presence and life, light and grace will flood your soul.
God bless you and I love you.
– Apostle Chika