September 2, 2021 (Thursday)
When I first started ministry, I played a game with our
youth group where I drew shapes on pieces of paper and told them it was a
trading game. The object of the game was to accumulate the most points. As the
game progressed, I kept changing the values for the various shapes. At first,
those who noticed the change excitedly bargained but eventually grew
discouraged, then unhappy, and finally rebellious over the shifting values. Get
it?
James tells us we never have to worry about God changing His
values or adjusting to our cultural sensitivities. “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming
down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He
never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” [James
1:17 NLT] Good will always be good. Perfect (mature, fulfilling purpose or
function) will always be perfect. God is the one who created this physical
universe, its spiritual make up, and the rules and consequences it runs (or
fails to run) by.
Simple point: God NEVER changes. God is so consistent He
never even casts a shadow or hint of a change in character or conduct. We can
depend on good (and by implication evil) never changing because good is based
on God’s character and conduct.
Wait there is more!!! “He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And
we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” [James 1:18 NLT] So we don’t have to get caught up in
the meat grinder of ever changing cultural values. Followers of Jesus have been
“born again” through “his true word” (also known as Jesus… see John 1:1).
The verse goes on to state we are God’s prized possession.
Very few things survive from my childhood. Those that are chipped, cracked, and
dented, I know I loved. Those that are preserved, I know I treasured. Nothing
else in the physical realm survived the passing of time.
If you feel like life has chipped thing away from you, or
areas of your life have cracked, or the blows of life have dented you… think of
it this way. They have NOT broken you. You have survived because you are
treasured by God. For anything to even touch you, they have to go through a
loving God first.
James started this thought with these words, “So don’t be misled,
my dear brothers and sisters.” [James
1:16 NLT] The ideas and things that deceive, fool or mislead do NOT come from
God. Those chips, cracks, and dents (ok maybe craters) really are good gifts
that shape us and give us the tools and skills we need. You may not understand
it this world, but eventually you will see the beauty of a life well lived.
You know those shiny gemstones we all admire? They are the
right mix of chemicals and large amounts of pressure. They are then ripped out
of their comfortable resting places. Eventually someone chips at them with a
tool much duller than the gem and polishes them in a rock tumble where the gem
crashes against disposable jagged rocks. If this sounds like life, you are
correct.
Regardless where you are in the process, remember God is
unchanging. Remember that unchanging God is absolutely good. He is without a
shadow of change or evil. Yet somehow this infinitely awesome God who can make
anything He wants or do anything He wants, chooses us to be His prized
possession. Chipped, cracked, and dented…
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