The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 11:11-13,
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Here Jesus points to the goodness of God expressed in the good gifts he gives. If even sinful man can give good things to their children, how much more can our heavenly Father, who is pristine in character, who is called love (1 John 4:8,16), who is without fault give us perfect gifts? I am reminded of James words, "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.
God our Father is good, he is without stain or wrinkle in his pristine character. In his perfection he gives gifts and his gifts are good and perfect. Through the salvation he provides us, Jesus tells us that God gives the good gift of the Holy Spirit. Paul said in his letter to the Ephesians, "You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." What a wonderful gift this is!
Jesus himself is the model of perfection of all good, in speaking of Jesus Christ, the author of Hebrews tells us, "Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." Hebrews 7:26. The gift he provides us brings us perfection, "When this priest [Jesus Christ] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:12-14.
Surely our God is good and gives good and perfect gifts!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
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