Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. – James 1:17
Everyone is familiar with the phases of the moon. For years, you were taught that the phases were determined by the shadow of the Earth on the surface of the moon. It is commonly thought, but according to Sky & Telescope, this is incorrect. “Instead,” they say, “the Moon’s phase depends only on its position relative to Earth and the Sun. … The Moon’s phases are actually related to orbital motion. … the Moon’s phase is the same for any location on Earth, but Southern Hemisphere observers will see the Moon ‘upside down’ from the Northern Hemisphere view.”
In discussing the good and perfect gifts believers receive from God the Father, The Apostle James describes the Lord as having no shadow—nothing to eclipse the full brightness of His glory. New Testament scholar and professor Dr. Simon Kistemaker says, “As the earth, sun, moon, and stars move in their ordained courses, we observe the interplay of light and darkness, day and night, the longest and the shortest day of the year, the waning and the waxing of the moon, eclipses, and the movement of the planets. Nature is subject to variation and change. Not so with God!”
There is not even the faintest hint of a change in God. He is ever the same, He does not change (Malachi 3:6). He is giving. He is generous. The gifts He gives are good and perfect. Theologian Charles Spurgeon says, “Every grain of goodness, every trace of excellence that there is in the world comes from Him.” An old hymn says, “Out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth, and giveth again.” His good and perfect gifts are meant for you to appropriate for the benefit of advancing the Kingdom of God. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10).
Give thanks today for the gifts you have received. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into putting them to best use.
Today’s Verse: James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Genesis 1:14-18
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
