God Gives Good Gifts

Say the title of this blog six times in a row, as fast as you can. Ha! I tried and did not do very well. Sadly, some people don’t know if it is true and should be said one time.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full till it overflows).”

John 10:10 (AMPC)

These are the words of Jesus. They can straighten out a lot of theology for us.

Bad things happen and someone asks, “Why did God do this to me?” Some people say, “You never know what God is going to do.” Others tell how God took a person or a thing from them.

Let’s look closer and see how these ideas shake out.

In John 10, Jesus talks about a shepherd with his sheep, and how thieves and robbers try to sneak in to harm the sheep. In verses 11 and 14, Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd.

So who does the thief in verse 10 refer to? The devil.

“Be sober-minded: be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

If stealing, killing or destroying is occurring in our lives, we can be certain it is not God, but it is the devil.

Jesus came to give us life, and not just any condition of life, but abundant, full, and overflowing life. He wants us to enjoy life, and no one is going to enjoy a life of lack and destruction.

So when something bad happens, God did not do it.

If we have lost people or things, God did not take them. In fact, He is our Father and He gives good gifts to us.

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Matthew 7:11 (ESV)

We know whatever God is going to do, it’s going to be good, and He is never going to change.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

James 1:17 (ESV)

Let’s raise our expectation and trust our Father to lead us into the good, abundant life He has planned for us.

The devil steals. God gives.

The devil kills. God gives life.

The devil is bad. God is good.

May these truths determine our theology.