April 8 – The Gift of Giving a Gift

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 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)

Have you ever been deceived? Of course you have. We all have been deceived by what others have done and by what others have taught us. We have a warning to not be deceived in today’s verse which should give us the encouragement that we are able to avoid deception if we ask for and receive the wisdom God has for us. The wisdom in this verse is the means we need to avoid deception. The original language expression in today’s verse refers to erring, going astray, or wandering off. Christians are not to make the mistake of blaming God rather than acknowledging their sin (James 1:13-15). Two different words for “gift.” First, is the act of giving, and the second, is the object given. Everything related to God’s giving is adequate, complete, and beneficial. The ancient expression for God was the “Father of lights.” It acknowled Him as creator of lights. “Lights” are the sun, moon, and stars. From man’s perspective, these celestial bodies have variation in their different phases of movement and rotation, they change and vary in intensity. But God does not—He is changeless and in Him there is no variation or shifting shadow. 

February 2 – Truly No Fear

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ” – Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

In Psalm 23, which most people call the “Twenty-third Psalm,” we find our Good Shepherd being our protective shield wherever we go. Some of us have been where our lives have been at risk from nature and/or mankind. Others have faced a different kind of threat and have felt are deep in and under the shadow of evil forces, evil people. There is a valley of shadow for many who suffer from depression. David does not write 'When', he says “Even though I walk..” He knows because it is the way of life on this earth. David chooses and determines to NOT fear evil.  The promise from God is that He is with us. He protects us from evil and the evil one with  his rod. The rod was a club used by a shepherd as a defensive weapon.  The staff was for guidance and a help in hilly, rocky areas. It was also a comfort to know it could be a defensive weapon as well as used to carefully control the sheep which had a tendency to go astray. God is fully able to keep us safe from evil and comfort us in all situations.

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September 17 – Right Hand Righteousness

"For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.  My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63:7-8 (NASB)

Figuratively speaking, God’s Right Hand is the means whereby victories are obtained for the people of God. It is also an instrument of punishment for the ungodly. God’s Right Hand sustains his children in the hour of need.  God promises to strengthen our right hand when  he purposes to help. The way it is often used is in the sense of describing that which is or is done in righteousness.  In Isaiah 41 God promises when we are dismayed and fearful He will strengthen us, He will help us and uphold us with His Right Hand (verse 10) and in verse 13 it is our right hand that God holds as He helps us.  As a matter of position, the Right Hand of God is the place of majesty and favor in God’s Kingdom.  It is where Christ Jesus is (Romans 8:34).  In our verse from Psalm 63, David is the author and he knew well the blessings of receiving God’s Right Hand of  protection and help in battle.  We can depend on our God to do all these things for our benefit and His glory.  

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August 15 – No shifting Shadows and Stable Source

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 (ESV)

Have you ever noticed how if you remain long enough in one place, the shadows around you do move? Perhaps on a hot day you find the perfect shady spot to park your car and when you come back it is in direct sunlight.  The longer we live in this world, the more we realize that things are constantly changing. Some changes can be predicted and prepared for. Other changes are not so easy to predict. Our verse today reminds us of shifting shadows we have seen. We realize that as shadows change it is because the source of light casting them is constantly changing – or the object, like a light fixture casting the shadow is being moved.  To keep a shadow from moving we need to stabilize the source of light and the object as well. This verse identifies our Father God as the Father of lights.  His light shining on us is constant and unchangeable. He will always love us. Things around us may change but He remains and His goodness will always be there for us. Let's stand firm in His light and our shadow will not be shifting.

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January 8 – No Shadow Shifting

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”  -James 1:17  (NASB)

We have been finding and pondering promises from the letter James wrote.  Today’s promise is one of certainty about the gift Giver.  Every truly good thing, and all the perfect gifts we receive come from God.  When it comes to God’s Word there is no such thing “individual truth” or “truth the way I see it.”  Our personal opinion and faulty understanding can only produce various shadows of what we want the truth to be.  The result is that kind varies from one to another.  Believing this kind of truth is like trying to keep our shadow. It is constantly changing and it comes and goes depending on our surroundings.  God’s truth is one of the perfect gifts that comes from above and it is always without variation.  It is has no shifting shadows because Truth only comes from the Father of lights. There is only one light shining on it and that light is the Word of God as given in the Bible.  

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June 24 – Priced So High, It's Free

“How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:7 (NIV)

When we use the word “priceless” for something, we mean that there is no way of assessing its value. That is certainly true about God's unfailing love.  There is no way to monetize the lovingkindness of God for no one can put a specific value on it. It cannot be bought and, it is not a commodity that can be use in any kind of trade.  But His lovingkindness did purchase our salvation, in the only way that could happen, on the cross where Jesus died.  To think that the great creator of the universe would love anyone of His creatures is very significant.  When we remember that His love is unfailing and that we can depend on  it for every circumstance, that makes His love priceless in a way we can understand. This is why the psalmist tells us we can find security and refuge in the shadow of His wings. Aren't you glad that you don't have to pay for God's love? And He doesn't expect us to pay Him for it. All He wants is that we accept His love and be thankful to Him for it.  He wants us to acknowledge His promise of unfailing love.

August 15 – Stable Source

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 (NIV)

The longer we live in this world, the more we realize that things are constantly changing. Our verse today reminds us of shifting shadows and we can think of shadows like that which we have seen. We realize that when shadows continually change is is because the source of light causing them is constantly changing – or the object casting the shadow is being moved.  To keep a shadow from moving we need to stabilize the source of light and the object as well. This verse likens the source of light to the Father of heavenly lights and that source is stable. His light shining on us is constant. He will always be the same. He will always love us. Things around us may change but He remains and His goodness will always be there for us. Let's stand firm in His light and our shadow will not be shifting.

December 26

Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79 (NASB ©)

This was a prophecy spoken by Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist a few months before the birth of Jesus. Of course Jesus was the Sunrise who came from on high. He has shined in our hearts where there was darkness before. I trust that He is shining in your heart today. Without the light of Jesus we would remain in darkness. Part of that darkness would be an uncertainty and a fear of death. Death would cause a shadow ahead of us but now we can look ahead to eternity in God’s presence. Instead of fear we have peace and walk in the way of peace.

Scripture quotation taken from the NASB©. (www.lockman.org)

June 17

“Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:7-8 (NIV)

The nearness of God does not depend on our earthly circumstances. We find some of the most intimate expressions of the joy of knowing God’s presence in songs written by David in the most unpleasant situations. These verses today were written when he was out in the desert hiding from those who were trying to kill him. Spiritual blessings are not dependent on physical circumstances. Out there in the desert by himself, David sensed that He was not alone. God was with him sustaining him. So whatever your situation, be sure to lean upon the Lord because He is near, and by faith stay close to Him.