Day 29 - The Source Of Goodness
- Pastor b.Side
- Jan 29
- 3 min read
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. - James 1:17
God’s essence as the eternally self-existing and self-sustaining Creator and Controller of all things in heaven and earth is how everyone can benefit in any way. If God is not the Creator, He isn't in control. If God isn’t in control, His promises rely on external factors that could prevent Him from fulfilling what He said. That would make Him just like us. If God is not self-existing, He would depend on other factors for ability, resources, and motivation. He would be subject to change. Once again, He’d be just like us. That doesn’t bode well for His reputation. He wouldn’t be trustworthy. His promises would be nonsense.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…”
God has provided evidence of His eternal nature. He has shown proof of being self-existing and self-sustaining. He has publicly demonstrated that He is unlike us time and time again. This is why we can trust God. His nature qualifies Him to deliver the extent of “good” that His Word describes. That’s why the Apostle James wrote that God is the source and standard of good things. Every good gift must come from God because He is the exclusive source of “good.” Remember, when God created everything in Genesis, He declared what it means to be “good.” The true standard of “good” is the byproduct of God’s Word. That’s how every good thing comes to us, and since He is eternally self-existing and self-sustaining, the broken and corrupt aspects of our lives do not affect Him, His goodness, or His willingness to share it.
“And comes down from the Father of lights…”
Jesus’ incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension provide evidence for this. Jesus is the Word of God incarnate, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of a virgin to maintain His holiness. He lived a sinless life to demonstrate that He has no flaws. He raised Himself from the dead on the third day to prove that He is incorruptible in every way. Death couldn’t hold Him or make Him impure. He publicly ascended to the Father’s right hand to reveal the source of His glory from above. He came to share the benefits of His essence with those who believe these truths. Does it get more “good” than that?
The “Father of lights” is the Father of glory, wisdom, purity, satisfaction, and truth. He took the form of flesh as Jesus Christ. In that sense, the glory of the Father “came down” to share the benefits of His nature and character. Although God’s appearance changed, Jesus’ work during His first arrival proves that His glory and purposes don’t change. His standards and method of distributing “good” don’t change either. Now THAT’s Good News!
Prayer for today
Our heavenly Father, we’re grateful that Your holiness doesn’t prevent You from sharing Your goodness. Thank You for reaching out to us to share the goodness of Your nature, attributes, character, and integrity. Help us to live by the standard of “good” that You have defined and to receive Your goodness the way You deliver it – in Jesus’ name. Amen!
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