First Fruits
“And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O Lord, have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God.” –Deuteronomy 26:10
The first fruits of the day are the sweetest. At least I think so, but that is because I am a morning person. I rise with eager expectations for what is to come. I find so much hope in those early morning hours. Don’t get me wrong, like most people, I must fight off the myriad of alluring distractions that attempt to pollute my mind. However, it is when my thoughts drift, better yet focus toward God that I find a deep sense of peace. This is where new hope begins in the earliest moments of every new day. The first fruits of time become an overflow of worship in the wee hours of the morning.
I woke up today with the intention of sitting before the Lord, as I aimed to start my day and new year off with a plan to plant the seeds of faith through devotionals and prayer. My agenda, my plan, and yes my desire. I contemplated and reflected all the while I set my mind and heart on the giver of these moments. How grateful I was, I am, for the first fruits of my mornings. Sitting there in the early morning hours feeling my own efforts to wake up and focus, I realized that while I thought I was giving to God my first fruits, it was really He who first gave them to me.
The desire to seek Him was not my brilliant plan, but a well-planted and nurtured seed planted by the Creator Himself. My faith today is not my own doing, but His work, His plan from long ago. He saw me, created me, and lead me here. So, now I don’t wonder what I will find in the first fruit moments of my day. I know, God!
Seeing the fruit of my labor, or the effort producing fruits of my heart’s desire brings such satisfaction. This is not because it reveals what I have done through my own efforts, discipline, or gifting, but reveals the natural overflow of a soul nurtured by time with the Planter, Creator Father, and Savior God Himself. We know from scripture that all good gifts come from God, and the fruit in our lives is evidence of that. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1:17
Knowing that these fruits first come from God elicits a response of gratitude and worship. This is important because it brings us back to our purpose above all other things, which is worship. We were created with but one purpose and that was to live in worship of God. Psalm 29:1-2, “Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.”
As we seek to pursue these new year goals, all in order to reach the ultimate self-satisfying purpose of our lives, we can rest in the work that has already been done. The plan that was put in motion long before we had a desire burning within our hearts. A plan and purpose first birthed in the heart of God, for you. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
This plan was perfectly executed through the life-giving work and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. There will never be anything we can, nor need to do, in order to receive what was paid in full for you and me. As we aim to do good works, chase dreams that burn within our hearts, and pursue our life’s passions, may we remember that everything we get to do was first given to us by a gracious and loving God.
In those early dawn-breaking hours when we come to God with the desires of our hearts, and the plans we hope to set in motion, we find the ultimate plan of God in a sweet relationship. We seek, pray and hope that we can be the kind of doers that deliver that worship we were created for. The amazing thing is, we are brought to worship, yes, yet not in the doing, but what has already been done. The work is finished! His work is in motion within our hearts, and what cultivates worship. Everything we do from there is that soul-satisfying overflow. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
He is, was, and will forever be the reason we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). Savor those moments when you embark on the new, and relish in the fruit. Savor them because they are the true fruits of worship. We were made to worship, so live out your purpose, and rest in the gift of that purpose.
Blessings,
Anne Blanchette
