James 1:17 (LSB) 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
There is much in this verse that brings glory and honor to God.
But we’d like to focus on one phrase here today, so we can be sure to understand it fully; with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
This may not seem like much at first glance. And maybe it makes no sense at all due to the way it is worded.
But let’s take a closer look so we can get its full meaning.
At the beginning of the verse, James is extoling God’s virtues, proclaiming that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.
This verse is easy to interpret; all good things come from God above, the Father of lights.
First, let’s clarify why James called Him (God) the Father of lights.
He was asserting that God is the One who created those lights above; the planets and stars in the heavens.
He then proclaimed that with God there is ” no variation or shifting shadow”.
The NKJV translation says there is “no shadow of turning”.
Either way, unless we understand the imagery being used here, we will never fully understand or appreciate what James is teaching.
The light of all heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, and stars, is affected by the earth’s rotation, causing variations, shadows, etc. This is what drives moon phases, different angles of the sun during different seasons, and partial or full eclipses of the sun or moon.
But with God there are no variations, no shadows, and no turning.
So, what is James really saying? That God is constant. He never changes.
And it is on this that we can base our faith in Him, knowing that He will not be different tomorrow than He was today.
He is our ever-faithful, ever-stable, ever-solid rock upon which we can stand.
He will never fail us.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443
401-439-3780
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