To Encourage You

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. . .”

John 17:1-2 “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.’”

Everyone likes to receive gifts. It is with gift-giving that we, perhaps in a greater way than any other, express our love for one another. Almost any time we celebrate a significant event in the lives of those we love, there are gifts. It is with gift-giving that we express goodwill, be it at birthdays, weddings, graduations, or retirement celebrations. And it is the greatness of the goodness and love of God that is so evident in His gifts.

In the verse above from James 1, we are told that every good gift and every perfect gift comes from God. In studying John 17, Jesus’ greatest recorded prayer, I was struck by how many times the word “gift” or some form of it, appears:17 times in 26 verses. And even in the verses in which the word doesn’t appear, the concept of giving is everywhere. Just look at the first two verses. It begins with “When” – time – a gift of God.. The next word: “Jesus” – God’s greatest gift, for He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). Then, “Had spoken these words” – what an awesome gift is God’s Word – it is more precious than gold (Psalm 19:10). “He lifted up his eyes” – sight – a wonderful and precious gift of God – along with all the other senses He has given us. “To heaven” – what a gift, a place so wonderful that we can’t even begin to grasp its awe, for “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). “Father” – the gift of knowing that we can be children of God, for Jesus has told us that when we pray, we too should say “OUR Father.” “The hour has come” – of course this is the hour of the cross, God’s gift of forgiveness made possible only because Jesus paid the penalty for our sin – what a gift of love and grace. “Glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you” – all the glory of God, given to the Son, yet it is that same glory that Jesus has given to those who love him (John 17:22). For a taste of what that means, read I Corinthians 15:35-49 which describes the glorified body that awaits all those who have put their faith in Christ. And beyond that, Jesus wants us to be with Him in Heaven so that we may see His glory with our own eyes (John 17:24). “Since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him” – eternal life, given to those by the One who gave His life for us, who, incredibly, are viewed as a gift from God to Him.

So the next time you read the Word, I would encourage you to read it with a view toward the gifts of God presented in its pages. They’re not hard to see, and it gives us a taste of the infinite love of the Giver of every good and perfect gift.