Scriptures for you to look up:
- Matthew 7:11
- James 1:17
- Romans 6:23
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father in heaven give what is good to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:11
"Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." James 1:17
These verses are such a good reminder to me that we have such a generous God who gives good things to His children. I don't deserve one ounce of good. I deserve life in hell away from the Father because of my sin. BUT GOD. Being so rich in mercy has made us alive in Christ and have saved us by grace (Eph. 2:4-5). I don't deserve any good thing. But God so generously gives good things to His children.
I love how Matthew 7:11 gives us such a good comparison to how great the Father is. Naturally parents want to give good things to their children, but because of sin and our flawed human nature, we will never be able to give perfect gifts. BUT HOW MUCH MORE will the Father in heaven give what is good to His children?? I love that "how much more" statement. His gifts are perfect and abundantly more than any human gift we are capable of giving.
I love the reminder of God's unchanging character in James 1:17. He is the Father of lights, the creator and father of all things, AND THERE IS NO VARIATION IN HIM. He is unchanging and steadfast and constant. There is nothing good in this world that comes from any other place but the Father. He is the giver of good gifts. Even in trials and hard things, He is working all things for good (Romans 8:28). I can trust Him to work all things for my good and my sanctification. I can trust that His gifts are good. I love John MacArthur's commentary on Matthew 7:11, "Everything related to divine giving is adequate, complete, and beneficial." He gives good gifts and He gives them fully.
Response:
Journal some of the "good gifts" the Lord has given to you. Think past some of the material things and dig a little deeper, too. Think about the gift of grace, mercy, forgiveness, etc. Praise Him for being the Father who gives His children good things!