Every Good Gift
A Thanksgiving Day Devotional 2025
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning." — James 1:17 (KJV)
As we gather around tables laden with abundance this
Thanksgiving Day, we do well to remember the theological foundation of
gratitude. Thanksgiving is not merely a pleasant tradition or a pause in our
busy lives—it is a spiritual discipline rooted in recognizing God's sovereignty
and goodness.
James reminds us that every good gift originates from above,
from the Father of lights. This is no poetic exaggeration but a theological
reality. The food on our tables, the loved ones gathered around them, the very
breath in our lungs—all flow from the hand of our Creator. "For of him,
and through him, and to him, are all things" (Romans 11:36).
In our modern age, we are tempted to credit human ingenuity,
economic systems, or our own hard work for our prosperity. While Scripture indeed
commends diligence—"if any would not work, neither should he eat" (2
Thessalonians 3:10)—we must never forget that God provides both the strength to
labor and the harvest that results. "For it is God which worketh in you
both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
The Unchanging Nature of the Giver
Notice James's emphasis: God has "no variableness,
neither shadow of turning." In a world of constant flux, where
circumstances change, and human promises fail, our God remains steadfast. His
character does not shift with the seasons. His love does not depend on our
performance. His faithfulness endures through every generation.
This is why we can give thanks not only for the blessings we
recognize, but also for those we cannot see. When Job lost everything—his
children, his wealth, his health—he declared, "The LORD gave, and the LORD
hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:21). This is the
mature faith to which we are called: thanksgiving that rests not on
circumstances but on the unchanging character of God.
As we count our blessings this day, let us not overlook the
supreme gift: "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (2
Corinthians 9:15). Paul speaks here of Jesus Christ, the gift that surpasses
all others. For what does it profit us to have full tables and empty souls?
What good is temporal prosperity if we face eternal judgment?
God gave His only begotten Son that we might be reconciled to Him. He gave us the forgiveness of sins through Christ's blood. He gave us the indwelling Holy Spirit. He gave us His Word as a lamp unto our feet. He promised us resurrection and eternal life. These are gifts that neither moth nor rust can corrupt, that no economic downturn can diminish, that death itself cannot take away.
True thanksgiving produces transformation. When we recognize
that all we have comes from God's hand, several truths follow:
First, we are freed from anxiety. If God clothes the grass
of the field and feeds the ravens, will He not provide for His children
(Matthew 6:25-34)?
Second, we are moved to generosity. We are but stewards of
God's gifts, called to share with those in need (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Third, we are humbled in pride. We have nothing that we did
not receive (1 Corinthians 4:7).
Fourth, we are stirred to worship. The natural response to
God's goodness is praise: "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good:
for his mercy endureth forever" (Psalm 136:1).
Perhaps this Thanksgiving finds you in difficulty. The table
is smaller than last year. The empty chair speaks of loss. Financial pressures
weigh heavily. Health fails. Dreams lie shattered.
Even here—especially here—we are called to give thanks. Not
because suffering is good, but because God is good even in suffering. He works
all things together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He
disciplines us for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness
(Hebrews 12:10). And He promises that present afflictions are "not worthy
to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans
8:18).
Prayer
Almighty God and heavenly Father, we come before You with
grateful hearts, acknowledging that every blessing we enjoy flows from Your
gracious hand. We thank You for temporal mercies—for food and shelter, for
family and friends, for health and provision. But most of all, we thank You for
spiritual blessings—for salvation through Your Son, for the indwelling Holy
Spirit, for Your written Word, and for the hope of glory. Forgive us when we
grumble or take Your gifts for granted. Help us to live this day and every day
in a spirit of thanksgiving, using all we have received for Your glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
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