THE FATHER OF LIGHTS

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17, ESV) 
God whose we are and who we serve is good. It is His will to give good gifts to those who put their trust in Him and His gifts are perfect. There is never any sense of reluctance in Him when it comes to giving gifts to us, for “no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

God is consistent in all His ways, but as James remarked, sometimes our own reluctance to ask or asking with a wrong motive will get in the way (James 4:2-3). What He has promised to give you, He will not turn away from.

It is a fact that God is all-powerful, but His power is limited by His character. In other words, He will never change because it’s not in His nature to change; He cannot lie or alter the words He has spoken. He is “the Father of lights” and He “dwells in the light”. Hence He does not cast a shadow as one who is lit only partially by the light.

No variation can be found in His character. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He was in eternity past, He is now; and what He is now, He will still be in the future. The seasons change, as do the years and generations, but God’s divine nature and character will never change.

Being confident in the immutability of God’s character, we thus judge Him faithful and put our trust in Him. And we are able to express heartfelt adoration and worship to “the Father of Lights”, singing with the Psalmist:
“I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. ” (Psalm 138:2, ESV)

God who gives good gifts has good plans for your life, and His plans are perfect! Even in our trials, His unchanging and unchangeable character assures us that He always has a positive, purposeful, intended outcome planned for us. And that outcome is our spiritual maturity & unwavering trust in Him. “For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God. ” (2 Corinthians 1:20, AMP)

What gifts or promises do you believe God for? Remember, the One from who whom we expect these good gifts is the “Father of Lights”. There is no discrepancy in His character; He faithfully watches over His word to bring them to completion. Trust Him!

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This article is also featured on my column, The Potter’s Hand, at the Christian online community – Authentic Worship.

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