Daily Devotions: November 3, 2014

Today’s Bible reading is James chapter 1

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

God is the Giver of every good gift, and He is the Giver of the greatest gift of all. Every good thing that has come into your life and mine came from God. Everything God gives is good, and every good gift is from Him. The good gifts of family, job, health, food, shelter, clothing, friends and on and on, it all came from God. He gave us His creation. He is the “Father of lights.” The only time this phrase is found in the Bible is James 1:17. God made the sun, moon, planets, and stars. God gave us everything we need in His creation. God is generous and good, and He likes to give. No one can out give God. He is the greatest Giver. God is also the Giver of the greatest gift of all. He gave the perfect gift! The perfect gift is the gift of Jesus Christ. We receive His greatest gift through a new birth experience. We must be spiritually born into the family of God. It is God’s will that we be saved. James 1:18 says, “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” The word “begat” indicates a new birth. New birth is “of His will.” God took the initiative in our salvation. It isn’t by your will, or my will, but God’s will that we are saved. John 1:12-13 says, “But as many as received Him (Jesus) to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” God gave us His greatest gift Jesus, but we must receive that gift by placing our faith in Christ alone for salvation.

Prayer: If you don’t know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior but you’d like to receive His gift of forgiveness, pray these simple words from your heart to God… “Dear God, I know that I have sinned. I ask You to forgive me of all my sins. I believe Jesus died for me, and that He rose from the dead. I ask You to come into my heart and life and save me. I give my life to you. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron