FirstFruits~Why You Were Created
Hello lovely readers and followers! Welcome to Part 3 of the FirstFruits series, where we continue to explore the concepts of James 1.
James 1 focuses on the Christian under trials. Most of us know what it’s like to experience trials and losses, and it doesn’t make us feel very special. It doesn’t always make us feel very loved.
Yup, I went there. It’s hard to feel loved by God when your whole world is falling apart. After all, where is God when all of these awful things are happening–when we’re persecuted, grieving, or fighting a battle? Why is He letting these things happen to us?
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures (James 1:16-18 NKJV).
These verses seem pretty positive compared to the feelings I previously stirred up. Let’s backtrack to verse 13.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone (James 1:13 NKJV).
God does not tempt us or cause our trials. He is a God of good and perfect gifts. When James says that God has “no variation or shadow of turning” (verse 17), he is reminding us that God is constant in His love. We can know that God is still giving His children good gifts, and that He is not just sitting up above punishing us. He is a good and faithful Father!
The reason God lets us endure trials is so we can become perfected like Jesus (James 1:4). Once we put this chapter together–piece by piece–we can see how this all makes sense.
The reason why I entitled this series FirstFruits is because that is a part of our identity in Christ. We are God’s children, and we are made in His image (Genesis 1:27). We are His most beloved creation. God didn’t have to make you, but He did, of his own will. He has a purpose for you.
In the Bible a firstfruit is the first part of the harvest that is the most important, as it is given as an offering to God. As a child of God, you are more important than any other creature on the planet.
Now of course God loves all of His creation, but we humans bear something special. We are a reflection of God, and with His Holy Spirit, we can produce the fruit of love and grace just like Jesus Christ!
As God’s firstfruits, we need to give our lives as an offering to our King. This means surrendering our will for His. It means giving up our sins for His grace. It means trusting God to guide us and help us develop our gifts and passions for His glory.
No matter what trials we may face or what hardships may come our way, we can rest in knowing that our God is there, loving us and creating us for purpose. God wants good things for our lives and has given us the most perfect gift of all–a Savior.
Jesus is the answer to all of our battles. He is the one who will never fail us. Trust in Him, beloved child of God. This is your purpose. This is why you were created.
Thanks for reading! Please feel free to comment and share 🙂
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