Daily text, Thursday, March 16. 2017

[Queen Esther]

Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, coming down from the Father of the celestial lights.—Jas. 1:17.

http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/dt/r1/lp-e/2017/3/16

When you receive a gift, what do you do? Most likely you show your appreciation in some way. In addition, you will likely make good use of the gift, not taking it for granted. Jehovah unfailingly provides what we need to live and to be happy. Does that not move us to want to love him in return? The Israelites lived under Jehovah’s loving care for hundreds of years and were bountifully blessed by him, in both material and spiritual ways. (Deut. 4:7, 8) Their continuing to receive such blessings, however, was contingent on their obeying God’s Law, which included regularly offering to Jehovah “the best of the first ripe fruits” of the land. (Ex. 23:19) The Israelites would thus demonstrate that they did not take for granted Jehovah’s love and blessings.—Deut. 8:7-11. w15 9/15 5:5, 6