21-Day-Fast Devotional - Day 05: First Fruits
First Fruits
written by Elder Felix Boah
”The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land I am giving you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.”
Leviticus 23:9-10
The feast of the firstfruits required that the first crop harvested be offered to God. The Israelites could not eat food from their harvest until they had made this offering. Today God still expects us to set aside his portion first, not last. Giving leftovers to God is no way to express thanks and obedience. God commanded the Israelites to bring the best firstfruits of the soil to the house of God (Exodus 23:19; Deut. 17:1). Every Christian is expected to do the same.
Deut. 14: 22-26 states the purpose and principles of tithing –
“Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.”
Tithes must be given with a willing heart to be acceptable to God (2 Cor. 8:10-15). We are to give in proportion to what we have been given (Deut. 16:16-17). We are to give sacrificially (2 Cor. 8:2-5) and it should be a natural response of love (2 Cor.8:7-8).
The benefits of tithing include expression of thanks and praise to God by beneficiaries of our generosity (2 Cor. 9:12-15).
Reflection: What gifts and talents do you have to tithe from?
Prayer: Father God, we pray that you make us faithful and obedient in giving of our talents, gifts, time, and resources as our sacrifice to you.
Check back here, on the Christ Fellowship blog every morning at 7:00am, where that day’s devotional will be posted. Feel free to share, repost, and send the devotional to anyone you feel might benefit from it. And feel free to leave a comment on the blog post sharing what God has shown you that day through your fasting and the devotional.