Devotional: Lights and Gifts

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

As we approach the Christmas season, our thoughts turn toward gifts. Buying gifts, wrapping gifts, giving gifts, mailing gifts, and gift exchanges. Sometimes we might receive a gift that, well, it wasn't exactly what we wanted, and so we take it back to the store for an exchange or a refund. The gift giver meant well, but maybe didn't exactly know what your tastes were. Have you ever done that?

The Bible tells us that every good and every perfect gift is from the Father of lights. When I think of the Father of lights, I can't help but look at my Christmas tree all decked out in lights. I realize this is stretching it a bit, but I think we would do well, to think about our Father in heaven when we look at the lights of the Christmas season.

God only gives good and perfect gifts. If you have difficulties in your life, you may well be saying, "I'm not so sure about that!" God only gives us what He deems is best for us spiritually and that which will make us grow in the graces He desires to develop in our lives. Sometimes this includes difficulties.

Think of Jesus. He had to suffer and die to accomplish salvation for us. Now we know He did not have to go through difficulties in this life to grow in spiritual graces...He was the perfect God-man. But I point out that even He endured intense suffering and death to bring us salvation. Should we expect to be able to develop the spiritual graces God wants in us by floating through life on beds of ease?

So, this Christmas, look at the lights on your tree and remember that the Father of lights has your best interest in mind with the gifts that He bestows on you, even if those gifts come wrapped in the paper of difficult circumstances.