Read James 1:17
“Every good and perfect gift comes from God.”
I remember with great joy some of the best gifts I was given. One of the best gifts I was ever given was from my dad. It wasn’t an expensive gift. It wasn’t a necessity. I didn’t even expect it. But I think that is what made it so special. I think he gave it just to make me smile. He gave it to me in High School – and you know what? It still makes me smile! It was a good gift!
As a parent, I strive to give good gifts to my own children like my father did for me. But the truth is that we won’t always get it right. Our gifts can easily fall into the selfish category even though we give them to someone else. We give them out of guilt or because they will somehow benefit us in the long run – or simply because they make us look good.
But the gifts we receive from God are perfect. They are never selfish or guilt driven. God only has us in mind when He gives generously from His own heart. The last breath you took, it was a gift. That sunrise this morning spreading in oranges and pinks across the sky, it was a gift too. Jesus… He is the best gift of all. He was given so that sins could be forgiven and relationships could be restored. We gained everything when God selflessly gave us Jesus.
Today, spend some time in prayer thanking God for His generous love. Then ask Him to reveal ways for you to express a generous love to those around you, helping you to live a generous life that springs from a heart grateful for what God has given you.
