Bad Things and Good Gifts

Scripture:

James 1:12-18 (NIV)

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

Devotional:

When something bad happens we tend to do one of two things.  We either blame God or cry to Him for help.  Have you ever asked “God why have you done this to me?”  Sometimes we ask “What did I do to deserve this?”  Another saying I have heard is “God must be punishing me.”  If we are not outright blaming God for our woes then we cry to Him for help.  It is amazing that you can hear many nonbelievers crying out to God in bad times.  You can hear them asking how could God allow this to happen.  To me it’s funny; they don’t believe and yet will still cry out to Him when things get really bad.

The truth is that God doesn’t cause anything bad to happen.  God doesn’t even place the slightest bit of temptation in front of you.  God is good and He is Holy.  He wants to shower you with His love and His blessings.  Are you ready to receive His gifts?  Are you ready to open up to Him so that He may bless you?  Yes bad things happen in this world.  It just isn’t God causing them.  It is the enemy.  Let us place blame where it is due.  We live in a fallen world.  God gave us the freedom to choose.  We chose sin, which is the cause of all the problems we have in this world.  James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

May God’s peace be with you, and may His blessings be showered upon you…