Author: astherainandsnow

“We were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you.” Romans 6:4-14

United in death, united in resurrection. This mysterious, inextricable bond by shared experience between believer and Savior defines the Christ-life now lived in a dark, cacophonous world. Union with Him infuses boldness to say no to unrighteousness and worldly passions that were put to death at Calvary, and freedom to serve and speak distinctly with resurrection power. The beauty of a new life so identified with His is the impact it can have in a culture fractured by syncopated voices and wayward affections.

Threaded through the ubiquitous buzz of modern disagreement is yearning for unity. With a myriad of definitions floating around and some being insisted on, what does it really mean? For the Christian, being united with Christ paves the way for true and deep unity with other believers. When we come to Him in faith, and die to self so that we no longer live, He, as Regent, lives through us. We are then united with others by grace, and together shine as beacon to the world. (John 13:35; Galatians 2:20)

To be united in Christ with others supersedes cursory differences as it is necessitated by holy purpose. We’re made with different colors, varieties of personality and penchant, yet are all doused with grace, indwelt by the same Spirit, and serve the same Lord. Any gathering of Christian friends, where petty preferences and political views are set aside and commonalities of belief and gratitude reign, can enjoy the deep fellowship the Spirit supernaturally weaves among His children. (Romans 8:14-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

How closely uniified with Christ am I? Do daily decisions indicate genuine sharing in His death and resurrection? Am I experiencing unity among fellow believers, willing to listen, learn, and really love those of varying viewpoints and life choices? What hope, joy, and fellowship from being united with Christ is attracting unbelievers?

Father, help me foster unity within Your Body, and lovingly promote the grace-filled unity of believers to the world.

“The Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians… Israel saw the great power that the Lord used, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

“Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song,

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
    the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt him…

“Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea,
    and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
The floods covered them;
    they went down into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,
    your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries…
At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;
    the floods stood up in a heap;
    the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake,..
    my desire shall have its fill of them.
    I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’
You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;
    they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
    Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
    awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
You stretched out your right hand;
    the earth swallowed them.

“You have led in steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;
    you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode…
You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,..
    the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.
The Lord will reign forever and ever.” Exodus 14:30-15:2,4-13,17-18

Moses is curious, seeking out God’s fire. Moses is hesitant, unsure of his speech. Moses is serious, taking care with his Lord’s instructions. Moses is bold, challenging Pharaoh. Moses is obedient, leading a cantankerous people through unfamiliar places. And Moses sings.

In all his manliness and growing bravery, Moses leads a nation through the Red Sea on dry ground, walls of water held back by God’s loud breath on either side, and cannot help but break into song. Praise! Glory! His God has greatly, impossibly delivered them! His constant companion and provider has done the remarkable again, what only He could do, and Moses returns song as only He is worthy of receiving. Praise! Exaltation! (Exodus 3:1-6; 4:13; 11:1-3,10)

Leading others carries with it heavy responsibility that can cause us doubt in ability and weigh us down in fatigue or a sense of drudgery. Stress and pressures mount, we don’t know what to anticipate or how we can do it, and the people around us are not always cooperative. In the grueling responsibility and stretched resources, we can forget who is really at the helm. The same God who calls leaders leads them, supplying capacity, direction, and triumph for every endeavor. Knowing His almighty equipping, we’re energized through the challenges and with upturned heads, can sing. (Psalm 3:3; Philippians 4:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:24)

We are identified by sighing, whine, or praise, all contagious to those we lead. For what attributes and wonders of God can we sing today? How does our grateful attitude lead others in wonder and worship?

Lord, keep me singing all the day, praising You for Your mighty deeds and majestic glory.

“The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11

“Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
    and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Psalm 25:8-10

“Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Great reward. Great gain. Paths of steadfast love and righteousness. Godliness. What riches, what sweetness and satisfaction God’s children are promised and will own forever! Made known in His Word is the prescribed path He makes through His Word for sinners to know contentment and blessing. His words are perfect and true, He is good and upright, and we make the decision whether and how to follow.

The start of the path is in the soul. Revived, made wise, and rejoicing by exposure to the Word, we are enlightened to truth and proper fear of God. As we delight in His wondrous words, we are nourished to keep them, step by step. Tending to the inner man is vital to travel God’s way.

The journey bears its own rewards, by affording ongoing intimacy with the Savior. He humbles us, teaches us, and unveils His manners and ways. He supports us in temptation, and proves Himself as a treasure more precious than gold. The longer we walk, the farther we go, the more we experience firsthand His strong love and faithfulness.

Are we dedicatedly pursuing God’s path? What difference does His perfect, sure, right, and pure word make in daily confession, attitudes, outlook, and plans? What satisfaction in fellowship and wisdom from His Spirit’s instruction has become more real? What heavenly rewards am I presently enjoying?

“I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Tho’ some may dwell where these abound,
My pray’r, my aim is higher ground.

I want to scale the utmost height,
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found,
Lord, lead me on to higher ground.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s table land;
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” ~Johnson Oatman (1898)

God, keep me on Your path, pursuing Your ways, toward Your glory.

“I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

“You make him most blessed forever;
    you make him glad with the joy of your presence.”

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.” Psalm 16:8-11; 21:6; 23:1-6

“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'” Revelation 21:1-4

God’s presence with us is abiding as it is real, palpable at times, sure all times. In this life we live by promise, in faith that He is nigh and ever-present by His Spirit. And one day, that wondrous Day, we will behold Him face to face and enter into His tangible, glorious presence forever. As we become more and more familiar with Him, aware of His might, His keeping, His watchful eye, His tender keeping, we will know His joy, strength, and glory. (1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 John 3:2)

How am I making a practice of His presence now, and what joy ensues? In every awaking, turn of a day, setting out, work of service, or decision, how do I include my heavenly Companion? We can begin by offering Him our resources and time, asking His guidance on our work. We can endeavor to maintain ongoing, adoring communion. We can serve and interact in obedience, and with love. We can thank Him at the end of every day for the privileges afforded us, the blessing of purposeful hours, rich relationships, and the deep joy of life in Him.

In seasons of great accomplishment or famine of hope, strain or ease, doubt or sorrow, have I known His song of joy because He walks beside me? With whom will I sing, and share the delights of this fellowship? (Psalm 30:5)

Lord, keep living in Your presence my chief desire, praising You my highest joy, and spreading Your love my deepest delight. (Psalm 27:4-6)

“I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”

“O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,
    and in your salvation how greatly he exults!..
For you make him most blessed forever;
    you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord,
    and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.”

“He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” Psalm 62:2

“The righteous will never be moved;
    he will be remembered forever.
He is not afraid of bad news;
    his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.” Psalm 16:8; 21:1,6-7; 62:2; 112:6-7

Lusty wind sways the branches, fingers the windchimes to melody, sweeps the air. Moving like passing time, it cannot be seen, yet does not go unnoticed. Activities of men, machines, and nations hum, push, impress, compulse. Temptations of the enemy taunt, insult, and cajole. Nature shakes, turns, and surprises. Events confuse, unsettle, and grieve. Yet in the swirling midst, the one firm in faith can stand and not be moved. (Psalm 46:1-3,5; Ephesians 6:10-13)

The Lord God Himself is immovable, immutable, the same yesterday, today and forever. His throne cannot be shaken. He hems us in behind and before as a shield round about us, lifts our heads, and upholds us with everlasting arms. Look to Him for safe refuge! Rejoice with steadfast heart! He is a firm foundation that does not change like shifting shadows, the Rock upon which we can stand! (Deuteronomy 33:27; 2 Samuel 22:32; Psalm 3:3; 18:2; 57:7; 139:5; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17b)

What bad news has threatened, toppling plans and confidence? What uncertainties nag at our mind, creating doubt and anxiety? What gusts of coming change push at our resolve and threaten to knock us down? Are we more focused on the winds than on the Lord? (Matthew 14:22-33)

Would we look up, above and beyond the wavering uncertainties of today? Would we stand, faith firm, on Christ the Rock who died to give us eternal security? Will we trust His sure authority? (Psalm 121:1-3; Hebrews 4:16)

“How firm a foundation you saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he has said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow,
for I will be with thee, thy trouble to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

“The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!” ~R. Keen (1787)

Lord, fix my faith securely so I am not moved by anything or anyone but You- to love and praise You more.

“I am the Lord; that is my name;
    my glory I give to no other,
    nor my praise to carved idols.” Isaiah 42:8

“My glory I will not give to another.” Isaiah 48:11

“Every beast of the forest is mine,
    the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills,
    and all that moves in the field is mine...

The world and its fullness are mine.” Psalm 50:10-12

“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” John 3:27

“What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” James 1:17

No glory. No Success. No wealth, ability, insight. No right mind or acute senses or intuition. No home, no family, no job. No earthly goods or trinkets or awards. There is only one Owner of all these, God Almighty, and He bestows for our temporary use these gifts. We are not the owner of anything, except the riches and spiritual gifts He imparts at salvation as our eternal inheritance. (Romans 12:6-8; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  which he lavished upon us… In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:3-8,13-14

Having a right understanding about who owns what makes all the difference in a Christian’s life. If indeed the Lord owns it all, and we owe all to Him, we will keep a loose hold on the visible and invisible treasures entrusted to us. He measures out goods of all varieties so we will put them to fruitful use, and is responsive to responsible stewardship. When we maintain this perspective through constant gratitude, unselfishness, diligence, and earnest prayer, we can guard against anything coming between us and Him as our highest treasure. (Matthew 25:14-29)

Are there natural gifts of mind or ability we’ve grown a bit smug about? Do we look down on others who do not process or achieve as we do? Are there material resources we hold too tightly, hoarding for personal pleasure or future security?What can and will we do to treasure more the things of God, eternity, and the Lord Himself?

“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.” ~Dallan Forgaill (8th Century)

Lord, in gratitude for Your bounty, may I handle all You loan with zeal and generosity, to Your honor.

“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools… Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For… a fool’s voice [comes with] with many words.

“When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands? For when… words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.” “The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?” Ecclesiastes 5:1-7; 6:11

“Jesus… was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white… Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.’  For he did not know what to say…  A cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is my beloved Son; listen to him.'” Mark 6:2-7

“When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
    but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”

“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
    he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”

“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” Proverbs 10:19; 13:3; 17:27–28

“Charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to… rightly [handle] the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.” 2 Timothy 2:14-17

Bridling the tongue for righteousness is called for and colorfully illustrated throughout Scripture. The Lord God created tongues for many a good purpose, and we are wise to set right our hearts and them to His tempo if we intend to use them for His greatest good. Understanding His warnings and applying discipline help to direct our tongues toward edifying, wise reactions and words. (Proverbs 25:11; James 3:6-10)

Unless we establish the tone by surrendering the tongue at start of day, we are likely to get caught off beat. Pelleted by pressures, shaken by surprising news, offended or unexpectedly upset by a loved one, we can let words fly like sparks. The desire to be slow to anger is easily jostled awry by circumstance and emotion. O, that we would appropriate self-control! (Nehemiah 5:6-7; Job 5:6-11; Galatians 5:22-23; James 1:19-20)

Who and what set the cadence of our voices? Are we easily swayed and driven by compulsion, or careful to choose words? Are we wont to blurt out on first impulse, or can we react under the Spirit’s measured control? Does our tone of voice betray impatience, or the Lord’s gracious filter? Do we say what we mean, and mean what we say?

Lord, please set the content and tempo of my tongue to lift others up and bring You glory.

“God said to Jacob, ‘Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.’ So Jacob said to his household.., ‘Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone…’

“And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel),.. he and all the people who were with him, and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother... God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him.  God said, ‘Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name…’ God said to him, ‘I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.’  Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him.  And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.” Genesis 35:1-3,6-7,9-15

Jacob returned from Paddan-aram older and wiser, a different man from the despised cheat who had fled Canaan at his mother’s insistence twenty-plus years earlier. He who’d deceived had been repeatedly deceived himself, and humbled. He’d wrestled with God, who had strived with him. He’d learned to recognize the folly of foreign gods, and directed his family to put them away. The Lord wanted his reentry to the promised land to be marked with a new direction, a new identity, a new name, a higher purpose. (Genesis 25:26; 32:22-32)

Man is identified by names that often describe a desired characteristic or prophetic role. When we come to know the Lord, we gain identity as His child, and He writes His name on our hearts. Though we continue to wrestle in the flesh, we are by faith His own. (Jeremiah 31:33-34)

Do we bear His name with grace, kindness, and honesty? What attitudes and behaviors detract from Him? What identities need I be finished with, once for all, so He is recognized and honored?

“O for a heart to praise my God,
a heart from sin set free;
a heart that’s sprinkled with the blood
so freely shed for me:

A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
my great Redeemer’s throne;
where only Christ is heard to speak,
where Jesus reigns alone:

A humble, lowly, contrite heart,
believing, true, and clean,
which neither life nor death can part
from him that dwells within:

A heart in every thought renewed,
and full of love divine;
perfect and right and pure and good —
a copy, Lord, of thine.

Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart,
come quickly from above;
write thy new name upon my heart,
thy new best name of Love.” ~Charles Wesley (1742)

Amen!

“‘God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:5-6

“Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.”

“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the spirit.”

“There are those who are clean in their own eyes
    but are not washed of their filth.
There are those—how lofty are their eyes,
    how high their eyelids lift!” Proverbs 3:7; 16:2; 30:12-13

“Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart
    I will not endure.” Psalm 101:5b

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

God sees everything with precision, so He infuses the Bible with admonition to be careful, little eyes, what you see. From the beginning, the poison the first eyes first entertained seeped in to spread its rancor into the human will. The Lord looks down in love, knowing fully that in ways of vision and inclination, our eyes are diseased and in need of His keeping. He despises lust, greed, and arrogance, and our eyes give them away every time.

Messages that come by way of audio and visual enticement prey on emotion. Marketers know how to appeal to senses, discontent, and desired lifestyles. Fast-changing images portray pleasure and desert without disclosing the cost, the insidiousness of unsatiated desires, the incessant gnawing of always wanting more. With an exquisite world to behold and enjoy, unless we train our eyes not to stray from what is true and God-honoring, we will fall. (Ecclesiastes 2:14; Matthew 6:22-23)

The wanton eye of comparison, criticism, and malice provokes pride, cruelty, and jealousy within. It is concerned with others’ specks but ignorant of its own planks. Eyes jaded by superiority, prejudice, or thoughtless judgment blind us to the value of all people and rob us of the richness of a variety of relationships and opportunities. Only eyes cleansed of foreign matter like avarice and arrogance will see clearly and be used for constructive good. (Matthew 7:1-5; Luke 18:10-14)

What is causing eye disease for me? What do I entertain, by scrolling, watching, or lengthy gazing, that leads me to want what is not mine to have, to agitate with restlessness, to despise or diminish another? When will I yield my instruments of sight to God for His noble, fruitful use? (2 Samuel 11:1-4; Proverbs 23:31-33; Romans 6:13)

Oh Lord God, purify my eyes to as You see, that I see You clearly, everything else through You.

“When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, so that you may be accepted… And on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the Lord. And the grain offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the Lord with a pleasing aroma, and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin. And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations.'” Leviticus 23:10-14

“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, ‘I declare today to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.’” Deuteronomy 26:1-3

As the Lord established Israel in their land, He determined to establish rhythms of remembering and thanksgiving. All provision, tangible and intangible, as well as any spiritual fruit from personal effort, is from Jehovah Jireh. A repeated practice of celebrating firstfruits looked forward to the ultimate provision of Jesus Christ, the sacrificial firstfruit from the Father to atone for sin, bringing eternal, spiritual satisfaction. (Genesis 22:8; 1 Corinthians 3:5-7; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; Romans 8:23; James 1:17)

When we exert strain, effort, and resources to complete duties and accomplish plans, it is natural to take credit. This wouldn’t have happened without me. We think we earn the right because we do not understand that we have nothing He has not given, from resources and talent to opportunity. Any smugness on our part, even an ounce of credit or boasting, strokes greedily at the Lord’s glory, which He forbids. (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11; John 3:27; 1 Corinthians 4:7)

Are there smidges of pride in our achievements and material goods? Have we in any way slipped into thinking this is mine, it’s my due, I’m master of my universe? Wave the sheaf! Do not forget! It’s all from Him and unto Him! (Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:15-19)

How can we honor the Heavenly Father with our first fruits today? What portion of time will we offer Him for worship and thanksgiving? Will He have the first part of our plans, energy, affection? What attention and priority will we give to build His kingdom, and build up His people? Before whom will we wave the sheaves of His honor, truth, and praise? (Deuteronomy 6:10-12; Psalm 67:6; Proverbs 3:9)

Lord, may I always offer You my first and best, proclaiming Your glory.