The Daily Word: Sunday, August 15th, 2021
Nehemiah 9:22-10:39
1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13
Psalm 34:1-10
Proverbs 21:13
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the Lord; to bring the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks, to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God; to bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities. – Neh. 10:35-37
God deserves the best. The concept of “firstfruits” was deeply ingrained in the collective conscience of God’s people. Nehemiah, one of the men who led God’s people back to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity, reminded God’s people just how sacred this principle was. They were to give their “firstfruits” to God: their first, and their best. Nothing else would do.
For the people of Israel, that meant the first of their “fruit…year by year” (v 35). It meant the firstborn of their “sons and…cattle” (v 36). The firstborn of all their “herds and…flocks” belonged to God (v 36), along with the firsfruits of “the new wine and oil” (v 37). For you and me, this means giving God the first moments of your day. Do you pray to Him right when you wake up and honor Him with the firstfruits of your time and attention? Or do you allow your mind to wander as you catch up on social media and texts? This means giving Him the firstfruits of your free time: will you open up your Bible instead of flipping on Netflix or putting on a podcast? This means giving Him the firstfruits of your faith: believing His word more than you believe any negative report from a doctor or a news outlet.
If you don’t have a real relationship with Jesus, the firstfruits principle will be massively offensive. Why should God get your best? But if you know God for who He really is, giving Him your first and your best will be fulfilling. It will be the only option that gives you peace! It won’t always be easy; but it will always make the pieces line up in your life. God gave you His first: His beloved Son, Jesus! And everything you have is a gift from Him in the first place (Jas. 1:17). So how easy and how right is it to give back to God the first evidence of increase when He gave you the ability to increase in the first place?
Give God your firsfruits. And watch as He pours into you with so much more than you could ever give to Him, in Jesus’ name!
Prayer:
Father, I will gladly spend everything I have on You. You are worth it. I will give You my first! I will give You my all. I refuse to give You my leftovers; because leftovers do not honor You at all. You are amazing, and I will love You with all my heart, and praise You with all the breath in my lungs, in Jesus’ name.
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.