Bible Study IV

Written by: Eric

Bible Study IV: Christmas

            I wanted to study James 1:17 because I want to recognize that God gives, gives, and gives all year long not just on December 25^th. True the greatest gift is Jesus Christ so his birth is the celebration of Christmas. However, think about this. Even after God did the most heavenly, loving, parental act of giving up His one and only Son to save ALL of us, He still gives, gives, and gives. God did not draw the line and say, "I gave you the most valuable gift, now I'm done giving". No, He continues to shower us with gifts because He loves us!

King James Version of James 1:17

"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".

            The first line,  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above," is pretty self-explanatory. I see every good gift as temporal gifts. Such as, house, car, clothes, job, money, etc. I imagine every perfect gift as eternal gifts such as, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the spiritual gifts found in 1 Corinthians chapter 12.  In our discussion, one study partner said, "As I was listening to you read the verse I received a new understanding. The new understanding was that we might not understand the gift we are receiving or agree, but God knows perfectly well what we need and in time we will come to realize this". John 13:7, "Jesus answered and said unto him (Peter), What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." Peter did not understand why Jesus would wash the disciples feet in that moment, would you? It would seem rather unearthly, wouldn't it? Jesus came to serve us, to die for us. He washed the disciples' feet because He tried to help all people with entering the Kingdom of Heaven, even Judas Iscariot the traitor who did not understand then the gift Jesus was handing him, but did thereafter.

            "...and cometh down from the Father of lights,..." I believe Father of lights means God knows what we need. There is a LIGHT to be shown on the situation. Of course there are some terribly bad things we go through in life, but let me reiterate. We don't always understand and may not for years to come or never, but God knows every good and perfect thing we need. Do not make earthly sense of God's divine work or you may be chasing a dead end, running in circles, or worse, you may be wandering away from God.

            "...with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning". Listen, God is unchanging, immoveable, and constant. God doesn't wonder about His plans, He KNOWS. Therefore, God does not turn a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of an inch to cast a shadow on His will. His WILL, will be done!

            Sometimes gifts are awesome, cool, neat, good, and perfect and they are well received. However, some gifts may be terrible that they are quite the opposite of good and perfect, so they are not well received. The point is God knows best. If your gift is awesome, give thanks! If your gift seems terrible, give thanks because your Heavenly Father knows best. And do not try to make earthly sense of it either way.