“Every truly generous act of Giving, along with every perfectly selfless Gift, comes from the Divine; coming out from the Father of Light, with whom there is no variation or shadow cast by change.” ~ unknown (James 1:17)
This verse traditionally has the acts of giving coming from “above; coming down from the Father” — and any humble reader of Scripture must indeed admit that it is possible that some gifts are indeed showered upon us from “on high” via any array of mysterious, external “celestial sources”. And yet the true power of this verse becomes illuminated the moment we alter the original wording to what we have here: “comes from the Divine; coming out from the Father” – emphasizing the Truth that we are able to access the Divine residing within us in every moment of our lives, not merely those times when a potential external godhead seems to bless us notoriously.
And this second interpretation actually makes more sense – After all, if the Father indeed has “no variation or shadow,” and if that Father is indeed composed Love untainted (see 1 John 4 & Matthew 5:48, for starters), then It (or He, or She) can do nothing by its very nature but constantly shower us all with blessings.
More importantly, on a purely practical level, the greatest experience of Peace always comes in those moments when we choose to extend Kindness to our enemies (in those moments when we least wish do so, directly to those “least deserving” of the same) – and this ultra-potent choice always comes from within; never from “above”. Indeed, if it were to come authoritatively “from above”, it wouldn’t allow for the requisite unhindered choice at all.

 

As such, it is therefore the Father’s greatest gift that he has enabled us to do such powerful Giving – that we are each able to choose to be a source of blessing for others, rather than merely yearning for the same for ourselves.

 

 

Filed under: My Favorite Verses by Scaughdt