James opens telling us to count it all joy when we fall into temptation, knowing that it is an opportunity for promotion and completion.
If we lack wisdom, ask of God who gives to all who ask
in faith.
We’re blessed by enduring temptation and the crown
of life, awaits those who love Him.
Temptation never comes from God.
Temptation always comes from our own desires, and if
allowed to grow, ends in death.
So...
16 Do not be
deceived, my beloved brethren.
Don’t be deceived like Eve. Gen. 3:6.
Don’t doubt the Word of God, the Word of Truth.
Don’t fall for the forbidden fruit that looks
so good, so pleasant to the eyes and so desirous to make one wise.
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life, are poisonous imposters of the pure and precious gifts of God. 1 John 2:16.
Remember yielding to temptation only leads to
destruction, darkness and death.
Therefore, let’s move forward in our journey through
James, and life, by considering a better Way.
Look up.
17a Every good
gift and every perfect gift is from above...
Ah, that’s refreshing.
Last week we read:
13 Let
no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted
by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
And we said:
If it's sin—it’s not from
God. Period.
If it’s evil—it’s not
from God. Period.
Today, let’s soar to a new level.
Rather than looking at what’s not from God, let’s
look at what is.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.
So, we can say:
If it’s
good and perfect—it’s from God.
These words in the original Greek text have a poetic
rhythm, and some say they are a fragment of an ancient Christian hymn.
Our English word, “gift” is two Greek words in the
original text.
Every good gift (dosis) and every perfect gift (dōrēma) is from above.
The first “gift” refers to the act of giving, the
second to the gift itself.
Gift (dosis) = the act of
giving
Gift (dōrēma) = the gift
itself
Notice the two lovely gifts are preceded by a
couple of handsome escorts, good and perfect.
Good (Greek: agathos),
which means, good.
Perfect (Greek: teleios), which
means, mature, full-grown, complete. Like a pirate’s telescope extending, step
by step, stage by stage, strength by strength, until full capacity, full extension,
full strength, completeness, clarity.
Teleios should sound
familiar, this is the third time in James we’ve heard that word.
You may remember when we discussed it in verse 4.
But
let patience have its perfect (teleios) work, that you may
be perfect (teleios) and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:4.
If you are born again, you are a gift. Growing
like good Seed in good soil. Telescoping, extending, step by step with the Word
as a lamp; strengthened day after day with His daily Bread. Beholding as
in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the
same image from glory to glory. 2 Corinthians 3:18.
Now if we add all the definitions we just discussed,
we can say:
God
is ever giving goodness, and His Gifts are always perfect.
Okay, let’s get back to our text.
Every good gift and perfect gift comes down from above...
17b ...and
comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or
shadow of turning.
People need to know this.
Tell them.
Help them see, Him, in
you.
There are no shadows in
God. No dark side. No downside. He’s an ever-present Good Father
in good times and bad—no absentee dad. Never moody. Never drunk. You never have
to walk on eggshells around Him.
He’s not out looking for
a fight.
He doesn’t take pleasure
in punishing people, but in giving good gifts.
Do our lives reflect this
about Him?
Serving and following and
loving Him is always good.
No matter the
circumstance. He is never changing, ever faithful, strong and stable.
On dreary days, during
the darkest night, the sun still shines just as bright.
It gets that from its
Creator. Our Father.
God is good. All the
time. Period.
Malachi 3:6, He
states clearly: “I AM the Lord, I change not...”
Hebrews 13:8, Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
18 Of
His own will He brought us forth
by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits
of His creatures.
Of His own will
He wants you, alive, at such a time and place as this.
Are you living out your mission? Your Divine Eternal
Calling?
He brought us forth.
He gave us birth.
In the beginning God spoke, “let us make man in Our
image.” Genesis 1:26-27.
The Love that flowed from His lips from that day to
this, echoes from countless multitudes of husbands and wives whispering, “let’s
make a baby.”
John
3:3
Unless born again, no one can see the Kingdom of God
His Divine Eternal Purpose from those words in
the beginning to The Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us (John
1:14), was so we could be (brought forth) born into His glorious
family.
Jesus is the
Word of Truth.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God...and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:1, 14.
I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life, no one comes to the
Father except through Me...(John 14:6).
In the volume of the Book (Word of Truth) is written
of Me. Psalm 40:7, Hebrews 10:7
A kind of firstfruits. The
Feast of Firstfruits is when Israel takes a sheaf from the first crop and
brings it to the priest as a wave offering to the Lord. Showing thanksgiving for
the first fruit and faith for much more to come.
Now check out the cool part.
The Feast of Firstfruits is celebrated in the spring,
(this year it’s, April 4-5, 2026).
It is the day after the Sabbath following Passover.
Jesus died on Passover. Then was Sabbath, the next day was Sunday,
the first day of the week and the first day of The Feast of Firstfruits.
Jesus resurrected on the Feast of
Firstfruits.
Jesus is the Firstfruit from the dead, with much
more to come.
If you are born again, you are part of the much
more to come.
He is the Firstborn among many brethren. Romans
8:29
1
Corinthians 15:20-23
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits
of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also
came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ
all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
19 So then, my beloved
brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to
wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the
righteousness of God.
So then, my
beloved, I said all that to say this.
Listening is a part of communication.
God gave two ears, one mouth.
Do the math.
Communication should be, at least, two parts listening
to one part speaking.
Let patience have her perfect work.
Before speaking, pray for wisdom. Listen for the Word of Truth.
Count it all joy, endure temptation, look
toward the crown of life.
Doing that will take care of being slow to wrath and produce the
righteousness of God.
Psalm
19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your
sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Psalm
141:3
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Ephesians
4:26
Be angry and sin not; do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
21 Therefore lay
aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with
meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Heb. 12:1 ...lay
aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let
us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Okay, the Holy Spirit is moving us to teleios quickly,
kindly.
However, this verse smells like Luke 15:11-32.
When the prodigal son came home, he stunk. Imagine, pig
manure in his hair, his clothes stained with all kinds of muck.
Yet, his father gave him the biggest hug of his life
and said, let’s have a feast.
But dad didn’t stop there. He gave his son a robe, and
a ring and some shoes and... probably a bath.
God loves us just the way we are, but too much to keep
us that way.
We need to be continuously growing closer to the Lord,
further from the world.
We should be laying aside the filthiness of the
flesh, the overflow of wickedness from the world.
That pig slop we brought in with us should be replaced
as we receive with meekness the implanted Word, that
cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Receive with meekness the implanted Word,
is a picture of good soil receiving good Seed.
Mark
4:14-20
14 The Sower sows the word.
15
And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear,
satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their
hearts.
16
These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the
word,
immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root
in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation
or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
18
Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the
word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness
of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke
the word,
and it becomes unfruitful.
20
But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it,
and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
How do we get good soil?
Great question. The answer can be seen if we glance
over our shoulder at the highlights the Holy Spirit has already shown us in this
dynamic little book of James.
Count it all joy when temptations come.
Let patience have her perfect work.
Ask for wisdom, in faith.
Endure temptations.
Be not deceived
Focus on every good and perfect gift that
comes from the Father of lights.
Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to
wrath.
Lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You for every good and
perfect gift You’ve given us. We offer them as a wave offering back to You only
asking You use them for Your glory, to bring many into Your Harvest.
Lord, how can we love and serve You, better?
We love You, forever.
Amen.
Prayer Requests:
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Email: pray4measap@aol.com
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Watch online:
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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s
Seed for you to sow.
Thank you for sharing.
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