Consecration

Be Blessed by Embracing God’s Values and Relating with Him through the Lord’s Feast of First-Fruits

Summary
The Feast of First-fruits marks a time of expressing gratefulness to God for one’s harvest by dedicating the first fruits of the crop to God.  It, therefore, acknowledges God’s headship over mankind; and man’s stewardship before God. It also serves as a shadow, pointing to the LORD’s resurrection as the first soul arisen in the newness of eternal life.

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. 21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.  (1 Corinthians 15:20-24 NLT)

In identifying with His resurrection, the child of God is, therefore, elevated to a new spiritual state; “from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”  (Romans 8:21 NKJV)

Grateful for this new sense of liberty, we will have opportunities to express loyalty—or faithfulness—to God. Such expressions of loyalty demonstrate the qualities of a consecrated life to God.

In addition to valuing God’s grace in the harvest, First-fruits gave the individual the opportunity to examine the first fruits of the crop to test the quality of the harvest.  If the first fruits were good—and therefore blessed—the rest would likewise be blessed.

Here too, the LORD has become an example of the type of character we should value and embrace.  The Holy Spirit, however, is the real enabler.  He is the Comforter who, if allowed, will transform your mind and heart, bringing it to conformity with the LORD’s character and nature.   

Life Application Questions

In what ways do you submit to the LORD’s headship, allowing Him to have authority in your life?

How do you dedicate the first fruits of your labors to God?

What are some simple ways by which you can demonstrate loyalty to God?

Scripture References
Psalm 26; Matthew 6:33; 1 Corinthians 11:28; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 6:4; Hebrews 4; 12:14-15; Matthew 7:21; 1 John 3:1-3; Galatians 5:22

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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.