“And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.” – Mark 11:11-14
LIGHT FOR NOW: The character of God or the personality of God can be explained or seen in how he gives.
There are realities that avails to the believer upon faith in Christ, and he must know and walk in these realities. Every good gift comes from God. 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 gift of a man would bear his character. The word “good” in James 1:17 means benefits, or that which is good. The word “gift” refers to giving and refers more to the giver; he describes his intention and his character. It was also used in Philippians 4:15 “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only”. Thus, James 1:17 can be better understood as “…every good giving…” So, the giving is called good because the giver is all good and he can only give good things; “…and every perfect gift…”
Mark 15:45 “And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph”. 2Peter 1:3-4 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”. Romans 5:16 “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification”. The gift refers to what that giving does to the recipient. The word “perfect” means complete; of full age. The word “perfect gift” is descriptive of what happens to the recipient of that gift. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Know your realities.
CONFESSION: I am a recipient and product of God’s perfect gift, in Jesus’ Name, Amen
QUOTE: We see who God is in how God gives.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: JAMES CHAPTER 1; EVENING: ROMANS CHAPTER 5
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 