The scripture for today, January 17, is James 1:17 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Do you sometimes feel slighted because other people get more gifts on special occasions (or even between special occasions) than you do?
No need to feel that way. Christians get the goods ones. Christians get the perfect ones. We get them all! And our heavenly Father will never stop showering us with those “good gifts,” those “perfect gifts.”
These gifts are good and perfect because they are forever gifts. And what can be better than that?
“Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
“But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles….”
“Are not all angels ministering spirits, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.”
“And you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: Bearing fruit in every good work; Growing in the knowledge of God.”
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
“Though you have not seen him, you love him! And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him! And are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy!”