Every Good Gift: A 28-Day Advent DevotionalSample

The year behind us has certainly been full of challenges. It has been dark. It has been broken. It has felt heavy. If ever we have needed the good gifts of hope, peace, joy and love, it is now. A good gift can be a comfort, a joy, a reason to hope. 

Our verse for this week is nestled in a letter that James is writing to his church who is facing a turbulent, threatening and challenging time. James leads off his letter with these words:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” (James 1:2)

Trials, James goes on to share, which test your faith (1:3), demand wisdom you may not have (1:5), humble you (1:9-10), ask you to persevere (1:12) and confront your sinful desires (1:14). It is within this context—the wide and varied challenges of life in its most difficult seasons—that James shares our verse for this week:

“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)

The good and perfect gifts that James is talking about are those that meet our needs when we need it most. When we face the trials and challenges of life, they are the things that lead us closer to Christ and refine us to look like Him.

Romans 8 reminds us that we can stand firm amidst the challenges of life when God gives His love.

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-32, 35, 37-39, emphasis added)

The world has been dark, broken and heavy. It is facing challenges and trials and there are many people with significant needs. We can represent Christ through the good gifts we give. The gifts that meet real needs when it is needed most. Good gifts show the love of God because God loved us so much that He gave.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

Prayer:

God, You gave Your Son because You loved me. And that love is what gives me everything I need for this life. Your gifts are good and perfect because they are what I need the most—the strength to walk through the trials and all that I need for life and godliness. Guide me to give good gifts so that I can show the love of God to those around me. Amen.