Every Good Gift: A 28-Day Advent DevotionalSample

God is a gift-giving God. Pause. That was an easy-enough sentence to read at the outset of today’s reflection, but have you ever paused to really think about that truth? It truly is remarkable. The God of the universe, the One who created all things, the One who is perfect in power, presence and knowledge, is a God who gives us gifts! What a humbling truth to settle in our hearts this Christmas. 

Through God’s Word (which is one of His good and perfect gifts!), we learn that God shows His love through gifts. 

John 3:16 is a beloved verse that reminds us of God’s greatest gift. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This is the gift we celebrate at Christmas time when we remember the moment that God came as a baby, born in a manger, to one day provide a way to eternal life.

Though Jesus is the ultimate gift, God continues to lavishly give good and perfect gifts to us. Consider our verse for this week, James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (emphasis added)

God is a gift-giving God and He doesn’t change, so He will continue to give gifts to those He loves. Gifts such as salvation and grace. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) In Second Corinthians, Paul calls the gift of grace God’s “indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15) Jesus says, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10). There are many spiritual blessings we have received from God that refresh and restore our souls. He also gives us spiritual gifts in order that we might be a blessing to others and share the love of God with them. First Corinthians 12:4 says, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” But God’s gifts aren’t only spiritual. He gives us gifts that impact our physical lives as well. Ecclesiastes 3:13 says “…that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.”

God is a gift-giving God. Pause. How can you thank Him for His good and perfect gifts today?

Prayer:

Father, it is amazing to me that You are a gift-giving God. You have given the gift of Your Son, Jesus, and in this season, I think deeply on that precious gift. You also never change and so I can trust that You continue to give good gifts. Today, I pause to think on who You are as a gift-giving God, and I say thank You for the wonderful gifts You have given to me. Amen.