“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10)
In most of the old African household there was a tradition where once the day’s dish was uncovered the best portion of food was first passed on to the head of the house, before the rest dug in. For a father this was recognition of his leadership and pleasing to him. Though one may express concern about children coming last, this tradition in a way made them realize life has a pecking order.
Creaming off the first and best portion to a leader was not just limited to African households but also features a lot in the way God deals with man. The Lord assigned his people to take care of the priests first before anything. “You are to give them the first fruits of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep, for the Lord your God has chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the Lord’s name always” (Deuteronomy 18:4-5). This tradition followed up to Nehemiah’s time. “We also assume responsibility for bringing to the house of the Lord each year the firstfruits of our crops and of every fruit tree. As it is also written in the Law, we will bring the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, of our herds and of our flocks to the house of our God, to the priests ministering there” (Nehemiah 10:35-36).
In the kingdom of God, there is a pecking order, quite obvious, “But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ” (1 Cor 15:23). The Apostle James encouraged believers, “Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures” (James 1:18).
One writer put it, “the first fruits offering opens things up to work in our favor on the income side of the equation. Our barns are filled so there will be provision there when we need it. And our vats are overflowing as more and more income comes our way over time!’ How about taking up God on that!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I thank you for all the blessings in my life, and help me honor you with the first fruit, to receive your protection and be blessed even more, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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20/04/2024 - 21/04/2024 All day“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Cor 16:13)
Tourists who happen to visit Bukingham palace will be expected to notice the King’s royal guards. Dressed in colorful often red uniforms and adorning tall black helmets they stand on guard and no one dare cross them. Elsewhere in life we find guards in all manner of places quite firm on deterring any intruder wherever they may be.
For us Believers being on constant guard is a calling we must permanently observe. And why? Once in the course of his work, “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Mathew 16:23). Peter had just protested that he would not deny Jesus only to be sported out!
There is something for us to note here. Satan had penetrated the ranks of Jesus and was going through his closest disciple. It is clear that Peter was not even aware that he was being used. Anyway, he found his target, Jesus, was on guard. Immediately Satan was sent packing.
No Believer is immune to attacks from Satan. After all when once the Lord asked Satan his whereabouts: “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” (Job 1:7). Clearly the guy is out there 24/7 looking for whom to devour. “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you have warned us to be on “guard” help me ever to be on the watch out for the attacks of the enemy and with your word rebuke Satan, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
