Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. James 1:17a
I have to confess that I love a good puzzle. Unfortunately, I am not very good at putting them together. I am working on a puzzle, which has been a challenge. Of course, I started working on completing the edge pieces first to have an outline of the puzzle before anything else. I finally reached the point where I needed one more edge piece before I finished the outline. I searched my puzzle box for that last piece but could not find it. Eventually, I paused, looked at the puzzle I had completed, and realized that the piece I needed was sitting on the table, close to my field of vision. It had been there the whole time; I needed to look for it. The truth is, we miss many things when we are not looking for them, far more significant than a missing puzzle piece. We miss the gifts that God gives us right in front of us.
James reminds us to look for God's gifts around us in James 1. He wrote: "Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow" (verse 17). It is clear from this verse: everything good and perfect in this world is a gift from God. That means anything good, from the coffee we drink in the morning, to the laughter of children playing after school, and everything in between, is a gift from God. We just have to be looking for these gifts.
God has given us beautiful gift after beautiful gift. The question is, do we recognize them when we see them? It can be easy to be so caught up in our schedules and routines that we miss God's gifts right in front of us. Let's note the gifts God gifts us daily, from the wonderful people God has put into our lives to the double rainbow that appears after a storm. After all, every good and every perfect gift comes from Him, our Heavenly Father, Who loves us so very much.
Look for God's gifts today. In the Notes app on your phone or on a piece of paper, write down God's gifts when you see them. From the smallest gift to the grandest gift, take note of them all. Then, at the end of the day, pull out your list and thank God for all the gifts He gave you today and the many gifts He gives every day.
James 1:12-18
"God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
16 So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession."
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