James 1:16 – 18 (NIV)
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Recognizing the Source of Our Blessings
Today’s devotional serves as an important reminder for our daily lives: all good gifts come from God. It is essential to remember that everything we receive, every blessing and every joy, originates from the divine. This truth encourages us to maintain a heart of gratitude and awareness of God’s presence in our everyday experiences.
God blesses us each day in countless ways. Yet, amid the rush and busyness of our lives, we often fail to notice these blessings or do not recognize them when they come. Despite this, God’s greatest blessing to us is the gift of love—our ability to love others and, in turn, to be loved.
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Recognizing the Source of Our Blessings
Today’s devotional serves as an important reminder for our daily lives: all good gifts come from God. It is essential to remember that everything we receive, every blessing and every joy, originates from the divine. This truth encourages us to maintain a heart of gratitude and awareness of God’s presence in our everyday experiences.
God blesses us each day in countless ways. Yet, amid the rush and busyness of our lives, we often fail to notice these blessings or do not recognize them when they come. Despite this, God’s greatest blessing to us is the gift of love—our ability to love others and, in turn, to be loved.
Romans 16:17 – 18
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the minds of naive people.
When considering whom to trust and follow as leaders, it is important to reflect on the model of leadership that Jesus exemplified. Jesus sought to draw all people toward the love of God. In his first sermon, he highlighted the qualities of those blessed by God—specifically the meek, the merciful, and the peacemakers. These attributes are essential in identifying the kind of leader we should follow. Unfortunately, there are times when the forces of evil in this world use individuals who act in opposition to these principles, leading us away from the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
It is necessary for each of us to pause and consider whether the people we follow are bringing us closer to God. We must ask ourselves: Are those we celebrate guiding us to love our neighbors as ourselves, as Jesus taught? Do they uphold the Wesley Principle of “first, do no harm”? If they do, we should follow their lead. However, if leaders promote division, fear, hatred, or malice toward others, we must examine whether they are leading us away from the Spirit of God. The will of God is to bring love and peace into this world and anything that works contrary to that is not of God.
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the minds of naive people.
When considering whom to trust and follow as leaders, it is important to reflect on the model of leadership that Jesus exemplified. Jesus sought to draw all people toward the love of God. In his first sermon, he highlighted the qualities of those blessed by God—specifically the meek, the merciful, and the peacemakers. These attributes are essential in identifying the kind of leader we should follow. Unfortunately, there are times when the forces of evil in this world use individuals who act in opposition to these principles, leading us away from the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
It is necessary for each of us to pause and consider whether the people we follow are bringing us closer to God. We must ask ourselves: Are those we celebrate guiding us to love our neighbors as ourselves, as Jesus taught? Do they uphold the Wesley Principle of “first, do no harm”? If they do, we should follow their lead. However, if leaders promote division, fear, hatred, or malice toward others, we must examine whether they are leading us away from the Spirit of God. The will of God is to bring love and peace into this world and anything that works contrary to that is not of God.
