i never liked the translation that referred to God as 'the giver of every good and perfect gift' and was further confused by the addition ' with whom is no variableness or shadow of turning'. i used to wonder which things would qualify as 'good and perfect gifts'. in recent years i started to think that maybe it wasn't particular things, but, could it be, actually...everything that comes into my life? could it be that everything that is in my life is a good and perfect gift!
recently i had the thought that looking at the words james was originally written in might clear up this uncertainty. this a.m. i spent some time looking at those words and reading a commentary on that verse written by lenski.
the first 6 original words in the verse, word for word in english mean: all (every)...act(s) of giving...good....every(thing) (the thing) given....complete. once again, simplified, the first sentence of the verse says: EVERY ACT OF GIVING GOOD, EVERY THING GIVEN COMPLETE..6 greek words expressed minimally, to get the most accurate meaning of them, into 9 english words.
the give words come from the same word we get the word grace from, i believe. so....it would seem that the truth of the matter is that EVERYTHING (which we humanly judge 'good', 'bad' or 'indifferent')..every single thing, God says here, through His earthly half-brother james..is good.
as if anticipating our typical human trashing and denial of His truth (ie. THAT can't be true...i have a better idea of what reality is!!) , He not only reveals here that it is He who is the giver of all things great and not so great and downright horrid, but that he is not changeable...reading between the lines He may be speaking to our human penchant to chalk up both what we call good and bad to God. no, the lesser lights, sun, moon, stars, comets etc, change all the time, but not Him, the Father of lights. (God is light and in Him is no darkness at all!) it all comes from Him. malachi 3.6 - I the Lord change not. in simple words NO MATTER WHAT OUR REALITY LOOKS LIKE AT ANY GIVEN TIME, IT IS GOOD..IT HAS COME FROM GOD. God is secretly working out His purpose in all! if we can only believe what He knows..
Lord, would You bring me to the place where i fully believe this and live through everything with total joy. may the recurrent echo in my inner being be 'LORD, YOU ALONE ARE ENOUGH!' ..and then Lord, open Thou my lips that my mouth may show forth Your praise!
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