Tag: gives

April 5 – Ask and Receive

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5 (NASB)

Too often perhaps if even once, we are prone to expect to receive what we are “owed” or “due.” The faulty thought that leads to this includes the idea that we don’t need to ask to receive what we are entitled to. We speak out only when we feel disenfranchised. Continuing the lessons and promises from the book of James, we find this command is a necessary part of the believer’s prayer life. When we need wisdom we are to ask God to give it to us for God has wisdom in abundance available and He is eager to provide it for those who seek it. God intends that trials will drive those who believe to a greater dependency on Him. They show us our own insufficiency. James’ Jewish audience recognized this as the understanding and practical skill that is necessary to live life to God’s glory. It was not wisdom of philosophical speculation, but wisdom contained in the pure and peaceable absolutes of God’s will revealed in His Word and lived out. It is only this divine wisdom from God that enables believers to rejoice and be submissive in the trials and testing of our lives.


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November 12 – Sovereign Over our Lives

 “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” – John 6:37 (ESV)

Some of the promises of God that we find in our Bible are difficult to understand. Why is this?  Mostly it is because the promise conflicts with our own reasoning. It just doesn’t fit the way we think things are or should be. Some think their reasoning supersedes God’s words. Those who believe the Bible to be God’s Word believe that everything the Bible says is true. Even historical accounts in the Bible are accurate. Today’s promise is one of those passages but it is wonderful to accept and believe, if we will by faith. Our verse sheds light on the sovereign will of God in the selection of those who come to Him for salvation. God the Father has predestined all those who would be saved. Based totally on the sovereignty of God, Jesus is absolutely confident in the success of His mission. The security of our salvation rests in the sovereignty of God’s will, because when God promises⸺it’s a guarantee. “All” He has chosen will come to Him for salvation. Whom the Father gives will come to the Son, Jesus Christ. We are a gift of the Father’s love; we are a love-gift to the Son.

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