Our Heavenly Father of Lights

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.  In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of the truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures (NASB, James 1:17-18).

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How I love these verses!  Can you picture our Father-God in the heavens, the creator -- not the created?  He exercised His will to bring  forth man -- that's us;  moreover, he made us to be special -- a kind of first fruits among His creatures (v. 18).  Man is not ordinary:  he is beloved by God.  

Not only that, but God brought Jesus Christ into our world in the form of man, and He is a kind of first fruits, as well.  He is the only-begotten son of God (John 3:16), he died , was buried, was resurrected and lives in a glorified body.  According to 1 Corinthians 15:20, Jesus is a kind of first fruits of those who have died and will be resurrected.   And someday, we who believe will be with Him.  

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of Nuttakit/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There is more that touches me in this passage:  God is the Father of lights (v. 17).  All the stars that we see in the skies, the planets, the beautiful pictures that astronomers have taken of nebulae and other things that exist in outer space.  That is His territory too.  He made it, and it is wondrous and beautiful.  

Finally, James tells us with whom [God] there is no variation or shifting shadow (v.17).  God never changes:  we can always depend on Him to be God.  He has no hidden agendas:  we can trust Him.  And we can trust the words that He sent us in the Bible.  Our God is loving, faithful, and reliable.  He loves you and me.

Prayer:  Father of lights, Creator of all that is good, I praise you.  I lift my voice up in thanksgiving for your many blessings.  And, I thank you for the reminders of your great power and love You have left in the heavens for us to see.  As I watch the night sky, I am in awe of the immensity of your creation and You.  There are not enough words to express how You fill my heart.  In Jesus Name,  Amen