BEAUTIFUL
TRUTH
Ninth of
fourteen devotions in Gethsemane series
Matthew
7:7-11
Matthew
7:7-8: “Ask and
it will be given to you; seek and you will find: knock and the door will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks
receives: he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.”
Kodie yelled down the stairs, “Wait
up, Keith. I want to play dodgeball on
your team!”
Fifth graders spilled out of the
school onto the playground for recess. But when dodgeball teams were chosen, Kodie
stood alone. She frowned, yet walked
bravely around the school.
Violet saw Kodie and threw down her
jump rope. “Kodie! Join me to double-dutch. Brittany and Jennifer will swing the ropes.”
Did you see God at work? “Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like
shifting shadows.” (James 1:17). This
beautiful truth follows people every day trying to get our attention. Usually, we’re too wound up in life to
recognize and praise God for His gifts daily.
Spectacular gifts that God
faithfully gives are usually taken for granted.
Sunrises. Pancakes. Rain showers.
Songs. Colors. Since every good gift comes from the Father,
it’s also true that our very existence pours from His hand every day.
Human hearts pump life-giving blood
in God-designed rhythm. Lungs breathe in
a dose of air infusing oxygen throughout our bodies. Brains direct thousands of miles of nerves to
their appointed destinations. Thoughts
are guided through channels God wired for speech. Every physical ability is given according to
God’s purpose.
People learn the limit of our tiny
power. No one is a super hero. (Sorry, Hancock!) No one can order hearts to beat. No one can order a full moon. Only God sustains our existence by fixing our
planet inside a galaxy where there’s a sun and one moon that’s a perfect
distance from planet Earth.
James uses the word from in his passage. And that makes this beautiful truth very
personal. James tells us the Giver cares
for everything and everyone personally.
Every gift comes from Him. He
invented every gift thoughtfully, meaningfully, and purposefully, beautifully
intended for our good.
Take Home Nugget
When we understand this
beautiful truth, maybe we can loosen our grip.
There’s no point hanging onto stuff.
Everything is presented from a gracious Father who loves to provide more
when we give stuff away.
There’s no need for pride; we can
simply rest in Christ. Rest in being the
person the Lord made us to be. Use
every gift to glorify the Creator who loves His kids unconditionally. Feel stress melt away. Joyfully rest in the beautiful truth of a
sunset.
Let go. Watch God supply. Thank Him!
Adapted from “Simplify!” Laurin Greco. March 14-15, 2015. In Touch magazine. Georgia, USA.
J.D. Griffith
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What an honor it is to meet you!
My background is a life time of worship, but seriously following Jesus came with age. Spiritual maturity is a leap of faith. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re missing until living on the edge of God’s leading. My life of self sufficiency ended abruptly when losing my job as an analytical chemist after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now living on the edge of God’s leading has become a way of life that I wouldn’t trade for anything else.
Surrendering one’s will to the Lord can be scary. Why did I wait so long to do it? Diving into an intimate relation with the sovereign God of creation is the most secure position in the universe. Will you share your experience with me? Will you let me give you my testimony? May I introduce you to the Jesus I know?