don't be deceived

'Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow due to change.

Of His own will he brought us forth by the word of truth,

that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.'

James 1: 16-18

I find this warning interesting. 

Often, when I think of warnings in the Bible I think of things like believing false doctrine or falling into adultery. 

Truthfully, the deception of forgetting-- or failing to believe altogether-- the Source of all things--material, spiritual, physical, mental--is a great and subtle trap that will take captive and destroy. It is when we forget Who the giver of all good things is, that we begin to walk a road of pride, self righteousness, doubt, insecurity and human effort. Not only is this road a slippery slope, but it will destroy us and the relationships of those around. Our lives become consumed with self and we forfeit the blessing that comes from acknowledging the Giver as well as living to glorify Him out of humility and gratitude. 

There is so much peace and rest packed into these 27 words. 

Recognizing that He is the Giver and I am merely the steward of His gifts, removes the pressure to earn or deserve that which He gives. 

I deserve nothing but hell. 

I have the potential to earn nothing but exhaustion and feverish toil. 

He gives because He is faithful and He delights in blessing His creation and glorifying Himself through it. 

Knowing, believing and remembering that God does not change is critical to my life as His daughter as I walk the dusty and temporary road of life. 

Everything around me is changing by the moment. Nothing is permanent. Nothing is guaranteed. 

The lives of my children. The health of my husband. The material things of earth. 

All is temporary and is under the curse of sin.

God transcends all of that. 

He is the only Being that is not under The Curse. 

He is not limited to the temporary and fleeting nature of this earth. 

As we journey through life, we are called to hold loosely that which we love and to hold tightly to the promise that God is eternal as is the soul that dwells within us. 

When health fails or life is snuffed out...God remains. 

When the job is eliminated or the rejection unbearable...God remains. 

The depravity of humanity, the hurt and hate of earth...God remains. 

He does not change. He remains. 

By His will He brought us forth. 

By His will, He spoke the lives of our children, spouses, family and friends into being. 

By His will, He called us and covered us by the sacred blood that was spilled on our behalf. 

He cherishes human life above the rest of His creation. 

We have been created in His image. This is to no credit of our own lest pride take root. For He is the giver of all good things. He is the Sustainer of all that is and all that will be.

Every talent, every capacity to understand, serve and do has been given by Him and ought to be used humbly for Him that we may draw others to Him. 

It is not about us, our prosperity, acknowledgement, favor or recognition. 

It is not about doing and receiving, earning and deserving. 

It is about God having favor and generosity for His human creation that does not deserve His goodness, but out of love He gives that we may glorify Him as a result. 

May God be glorified as you humbly acknowledge the Giver of all you have and the Sustainer of all you are. 

peace. 

<><tce