Dedication

Finding Significance by Relating with God through the Lord’s Appointed Times of First-Fruits

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

God instructed the children of Israel to celebrate First-Fruits after coming into the Promised Land and reaping the benefits of its harvest. On the one hand, First-Fruits marked a way to dedicate the harvest, or fruits of our efforts to God.   It represents gratefulness to God, and provides for a special way to express devotion and loyalty to Him.

On this day, God also directed the children of Israel to begin counting 50 days to offering a new grain offering. This commemorates the 50 day journey from the deliverance of the bondage of Egypt to the receiving of God’s 10 Commandments and revelation of His covenant at Sinai.

It serves to remind us that redemption was not truly complete until receiving God’s covenant. Taking the time to count each day and meditate on the reality of God prepares our heart and mind to truly receive fullness of truth and revelation of the love and knowledge of God.

RELEVANCE

The reality of the coupling of the deliverance, or salvation and redemption experience with God’s Covenant Word is emphasized in the very first words of the Gospel of John.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:1-5 NLT)

What a great affirmation this is of:

• The unity, divinity and incarnation of the Word and Son of God
• The eternal nature of God and His Word
• The value of truth as a reality of liberty in God
• The superiority and sovereignty of God’s Word as the eternal Light of Life over every contrary power that pales in comparison

The LORD lived as a man, taking on our human nature.  He dedicated His life in devotion and obedience to the Father, saving ours from spiritual death. In fulfillment of the appointed time of the love feast, the LORD rose on the 3rd day after Passover, the very day of First-Fruits. In His resurrection, He, therefore, became the first fruit of the LOVE OF GOD as well as human race to experience the resurrection of the new life!

Those born again in the LORD follow in His footsteps. We also have opportunity to celebrate this love feast on an ongoing basis in faith as we dedicate our lives—our hearts and minds first—and service and duty to glorify God; and as a result, reap the fruits and benefits of His harvest.    

REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE

In what ways do you express your gratefulness to the LORD for dedicating His life to save yours?

In what ways do you establish dedicated times to study God’s Word and reflect on God's business?

REFERENCES

Leviticus 23: 9-14; Proverbs 3:9; 1 Corinthians 15:20

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Unless otherwise specified, all Scripture references are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked JNT taken from the Jewish New Testament. Copyright © 1979 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. Scriptures marked NLT are taken from New Living Translation Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.