GIVER OF GOOD GIFTS...

GIVER OF GOOD GIFTS...

One of my favorite Scripture passages is Matthews 7: 9-11. It says, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread will give him a stone, or if he asks for a fish give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him.” We come to understand two important things through these verses. Firstly, we understand that our Lord is a loving Father. The love He has for us is incomparable. And secondly, we understand that He always gives us only the good and the best.

OUR GOD - A LOVING FATHER:

Imagine a small child hungry and impoverished standing in front of his father with an empty plate or a bowl asking him for a piece of bread...! Will the father in his good sense throw a stone in the plate and threaten him to eat? Or imagine a child asking eagerly his father for a piece of fried fish...! Will the father have the mind to give him a fried snake? Not even the most brutal and inhuman father would do so. God has put into the hearts of parents a compassionate inclination to provide for their children. Even those that have little conscience of duty will have some tenderness for their own flesh and blood. How then, will our heavenly Father who is rich in mercy and full of love give harmful things to His children? The Bible compares the loving kindness of our heavenly Father to that of earthly parents. Psalm 103:13 says, “As a father has compassion on his children so the Lord has compasssion on those who fear Him..” In Isaiah 66:13 the Lord says, “As a mother comforts her child so will I comfort you.” In Isaiah 49:15 the Lord says, “Can a mother forget a baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget I will not forget you.” Our heavenly Father’s love, tenderness and goodness far excel those of all earthly parents. His love has no comparison. His thoughts are far above their thoughts. If all the compassion and kindness of the most loving fathers in the world were crowded in a container yet compared to the tender mercies of the Lord they would be but a candle to the sun or a drop of water in the ocean. Our earthly fathers have taken care of us and we in turn have taken care of our children. Much more than all these God takes care of His children.

OUR GOD - GIVES ONLY WHAT IS GOOD FOR US:

Secondly, God always gives us what is good. The earthly fathers are evil - the degenerate seed of fallen Adam. Yet, they give good gifts to their children according to their needs. Whereas our heavenly Father is all knowing, He is ever loving, and ever living. He is wise, and He knows better what we need, what we desire, and what is fit for us. Psalm 84:11 says, “Nothing does He withhold from those who walk blameless. And Psalm 85: 12 says, “The Lord will indeed give what is good.” We do not know what is good for us, but He knows. Sometimes in our foolishness we ask for something that may be harmful for us. It is good for a child to ask for bread that is necessary for his life, and fish that is nutritious for his well being. But, if he in his childishness asks for a stone or a snake or a sharp knife to play with, or wants to touch a flame the father, though kind, denies his request right away. For he knows these are disastrous things. It is so with our heavenly Father too. When we ask that which will do us harm He bluntly refuses to give us what we desire.

OUR GOD - THE ONLY SOURCE OF GOOD THINGS:

In our daily lives, we are confused about many things. We indeed pray to God for His guidance before taking major decisions - before choosing a life partner, before accepting a new job, before getting admission for our children in a school, before fixing up an appointment with our physician for the treatment of a disease... but even after prayerfully receiving all these, we get confused whether we are on the right track. How strongly the verse encourages us while we are in such situations! When we have asked our heavenly Father for fish or bread how then can we become anxious that He may give us snake or stone? James 1: 17 says, “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.” So once we pray for His guidance and blessings, let us steadfastly put our trust in our loving Father and rest assured that He will give us those things that are best suited to us in every single detail. Amen.

WILL YOU PRAY FOR US ONCE A DAY? WE WILL BE THANKFUL IF YOU CAN, FOR WITHOUT PRAYER SUPPORT, WE WILL BE BIRDS WITH JUST ONE WING!