Every good and perfect gift is from above

“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

I never thought of James as being poetic in his writings, but this verse is very lyrical. He draws a picture with words like ‘above’, ‘coming down’, ‘heavenly lights’, ‘shadows’, losing the edge he usually paints with. In that regard, this verse stands out.

Verse 18 goes on to say, “By His own will He brought us into being through the Word of Truth, so that we should have first place among all His creatures.” I capitalized Word and Truth, because I believe it is referring to Jesus. We learn from other scriptures that God created us IN Jesus Christ, who is the Word and is Truth.

Colossians 1:15-16 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, because by Him all things were created, those in the heavens and those on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

John 1:1-3  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

John 14:6 “…“I am the way, and the truth, and the life…”

There is not much we can count on in life. People, things, circumstances fail us. But Jesus is the sure thing. The ONLY thing that 100% guaranteed. He showers us with blessings, always providing that silver lining during tough times. Sometimes He may seem like He’s hiding, but He’s not; we just turn away from the Sonshine - it is us who seek the shadows.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

~refrain from hymn ‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus’