What are the good gifts?

496 which are the good giftsThe apostle James writes in his epistle: "Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of light, in whom there is no change, nor the changing of light and darkness" (James 1,17).

When I look at God's gifts, I realize that he is bringing life. The light, the glory of nature, the golden sunrises, the bright colors of the sunsets over snow-capped peaks, the lush green of the woods, the sea of ​​colors in a meadow full of flowers. I see many other things that we can all admire only if we take some time for them. God gives us all these things in abundance, no matter what conviction you represent. The believer, the atheist, the agnostic, the non-believer and the different believer, all of them can enjoy these good gifts. God makes it rain over the righteous and the unrighteous. He gives these good gifts to all people.

Think about the amazing skills people have in technology, construction, sports, music, literature, the arts - the list has no end. God has given each person abilities. People of all backgrounds were blessed abundantly. Where else do these abilities come from, if not from the Father of Light, the giver of all good gifts?

On the other hand, there is much suffering and sorrow in the world. People have been drawn into a vortex of hatred, greed, recklessness, and things that cause great suffering. One only has to look at the world and its political orientations to see how serious it is. We see both the good and the bad in the world and in human nature.

What beautiful gifts does God give the believer, who meets the good and the bad in this world? These are precisely the people James is addressing, to encourage them to view it as a very special reason to rejoice when undergoing trials of all kinds.

The salvation

First of all, Jesus said that whoever believes in the only begotten Son of God will be saved. Saved from what? He or she will be saved from the wages of sin, which is eternal death. Jesus spoke the same thing about the tax collector who was standing in the temple and beating his breast and saying: “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” I tell you, he went down justified to his house (Luke 18,1314).

The certainty of forgiveness

Unfortunately, due to our wrongdoing, we strive to be guilty through life. Some people try to justify their guilt, but they remain.

There are many reasons why our past failings do not leave us alone. This is why some people go to psychologists for solutions. No human counseling can do what the shed blood of Jesus enables. Only through Jesus can we be sure that we are forgiven, in our past and present, even in our future. Only in Christ are we free. As Paul said, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8,1).

In addition, we have the assurance that if we sin again and "confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness" (1. John 1,9).

The Holy Spirit

Jesus also said that the Father of Light, Giver of good gifts, will give us the gift of the Holy Spirit - so much more than our human parents can do for us. He assured his disciples that he was going away, but the promise of his father as it was in Joel 3,1 was prophesied, what happened on the day of Pentecost would be fulfilled. The Holy Spirit came down on them and has been in and with all believing Christians ever since.

If we have received Christ and received the Holy Spirit, then we have received not a spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, love, and prudence (2. Timothy 1,7). This power enables us to withstand the attacks of the evil one, to oppose him, so he flees from us.  

Love

Galatians 5,22-23 describes what fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us. There are nine aspects of this fruit beginning with and embedded in love. Because God first loved us, we are enabled “to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.” Love is so important that Paul 1. Corinthians 13 wrote a definition of them and described what we can be through them. He concludes that there are three things that remain - faith, hope, and love, but love is the greatest of them.

A healthy mind

This allows us to live as children of the living God in the hope of salvation, salvation and eternal life. When difficulties arise, we may become confused and even lose hope, but if we wait for the Lord, he will carry us through.

After a good seventy years of living a blessed life as a committed Christian, I can agree with the words of King David: "The righteous suffer much, but the Lord will help them out of it all" (Psalm 34,20). There were times when I didn't know how to pray so I had to wait quietly and then when I looked back I could see that I wasn't alone. Even when I questioned God's existence, He patiently waited to bail me out and let me look up to see the magnitude of His glory and creation. In such a situation, he had asked Job, "Where were you when I founded the earth?" (Job 38,4).

The peace

Jesus also said: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you. […] Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14,27). In the worst of need he gives us peace that goes far beyond understanding.

Die Hoffnung

In addition, he gives us as the highest gift eternal life and the joyous hope to be with him forever, where there will be no more suffering and pain and where all tears will be wiped away (Revelation 21,4).

Salvation, forgiveness, peace, hope, love and a healthy mind are but a few of the good gifts promised to the believer. They are very real. Even more real than all of them is Jesus. He is our salvation, our forgiveness, our peace, our hope, our love and our sound mind - the very best and perfect gift that comes from the Father.

People who do not belong to the faithful, whether atheists, agnostics or people of other faiths should also enjoy these good gifts. By accepting the offer of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and trusting that God will give them the Holy Spirit, they will experience a new life and divine relationship with the Triune God, who is the giver of all good gifts. You have the choice.

by Eben D. Jacobs


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