Every Good Gift

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers

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”

James 1:16-17 (ESV Holy Bible)

Christmas is a time of giving gifts. Where the tradition comes from may be traced

backed to various events.

Traditions for gift giving may go back to a Nicholas of Myra (in Turkey) who secretly

threw purses of gold coins through a window to aid a needy family. St. Nick, was

later known as Santa Claus. Over the last 1900 years, this tradition has gained many

embellishments and has evolved to be the ‘commercial Christmas’ of today.

‘Wise Men from the East’ are even earlier in history and they came to the town of

Bethlehem, in Israel, seeking a new born king. When they found baby Jesus, they

fell down, worshipped him, and from their treasures offered gifts of gold,

frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). Gift giving can glorify God.

God is a Gift Giver and every good and perfect gift comes from him, especially Jesus

Christ as we read in the Bible verse of John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”

Jesus is called God’s generous, “inexpressible”, “indescribable” gift. (2 Corinthians

9:15). For a moment, consider God and His gift:

1. God Is Good and so His gifts are good. He gave us a ‘very good creation,’ the

stars, the earth, the seasons, the seas, the animals, and the way we are made.

2. God is Unchanging and True, so is still the giver of good gifts. Jesus Christ

reflects this unchanging goodness, as He is “the same yesterday and today

and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). We change – in age, and even in our morals

and some men, without God, have proposed that truth changes, so how can

we trust God. But God said “I am the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6). God

who gave creation, also gave His Son for our salvation, and is still a giver.

3. God Is Sovereign – He is called “the Father of Lights” – above all, over all,

the source of original energy, life and the universe. Modern cosmology is

searching for the origins of the life, yet neglecting in that search this one from

above from whom ‘every good and perfect gift’ has come. Even though we live

in a world with much trouble in it, God is still good and still giving good.

Nothing can stop Him giving. Above all, He sees and knows what gift

you need and can supply what no one else can.

4. God Is Loving. “For God so loved the world that he gave”

‘God’ - the greatest one;

‘so” - the greatest degree;

‘loved’ - the greatest attribute;

‘the world’ - to the greatest number;

‘that he gave’- the greatest act;

‘His only begotten Son’ -the greatest gift;

‘that whoever believes in Him’ – the greatest invitation;

‘should not perish’- the greatest promise;

‘but have everlasting life’ – the greatest possession for the greatest time.

Through His love, we have the ‘greatest opportunity’ to receive His gift.

5. God is Saving. The Gift that Jesus gave is unique in that He gave Himself for us

as a ‘sacrificial gift.’ This makes it possible for God to forgive and receive a

sinner like me, and you- ‘Who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from

this present evil age” (Gal 1:4); and “Who gave himself for us that He might

redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people for His

possession” (Titus 2:14). Jesus is a gift that brings us into a relationship with

God the giver. This is the blessing of the undeserved grace of God.

Jesus is a good gift giver. Jesus surprised a woman of Samaria by asking her for a

drink of water. Even more surprising, he told her, “If you knew the gift of God and

who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me to drink,’ you would have asked him and he

would have given you living water” (John 4:10). Jesus was telling her that he was

the giver of ‘eternal life,’ and if she would ask, he would give her that life.

Gift Receivers is how God sees Us. The gifts we give are ‘here today; gone

tomorrow’. But God’s gift is eternal. However, God does not force us to receive His

gift. Recently I was offered an opportunity to go in a draw to receive a special

‘Christmas gift.’ The gift basket had a number of goodies, but the main item was

one I would not use, did not want, and so I chose not to enter. I will never receive

that gift. Thankfully, I was not forced to enter and neither are you forced by God to

receive His gift. The consequence of rejecting God’s gift can be eternal for Jesus

Christ cannot be your Saviour so you do not perish.

Gift Getting. God’s gift is said to be near us. It is not in heaven, not under the earth,

but near you to be received by faith -‘Because if you confess with your mouth that

Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, you shall

be saved” – “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Romans

10:9,13).

In other words – you are receiving all God’s gift - saying the same things about Jesus

as God says, receiving Jesus as Lord (as your Lord), trusting Jesus who died (died for

your sin) is risen again (the living giver of forgiveness and eternal life).

This Christmas season of the year, receive God’s Gift. It is good, and is all you will

ever need for life. It is free, though it cost Jesus Christ His all to provide it for you.

May you have a blessed Christ filled Christmas.