~ God Gives Good Gifts ~
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and
comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow
of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we
might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:17-18).
God is
good… all the time!
If we could
see the big picture we would understand this practically as well as
theologically. In a simpler way human parents often deny their children some of
what the children feel is in their best interests because the parent sees the
bigger picture. Two passages seem particularly relevant.
“Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need.
This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for
bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him
with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a
thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God
who conceived you in love will be even better?” (Matthew 7:7-11, The Message).
“For
we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself
makes intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what
the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints
according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for
good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His
purpose” (Romans 8:26b-28).
Your daily activities are under God’s watchful eye. Your
God is sovereign. Aren’t you glad that you are God’s child, He loves you, and
He will not allow anything to occur in your life which is not ultimately for
good?
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
