Devotion for Friday, September 9th, 2011

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures
James 1:18

Pastor Ben’s Commentary:

“Of his own will”- It was God’s choice, and in His sovereign plan…

“begat he us with the word of truth- ….to bring salvation to us.  How did this happen?  By saving faith and trust in His Word.

“that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”–  In the old testament, the Israelites were asked to offer the first part of their harvest to God.  In giving this “firstfruit” they were expressing to God, “I trust in the Creator God to provide more than I depend on His creation.”  The first part became a promise of what was to come.  James is saying here that the fact that there are people who have been made into new creatures (those who have been saved) shows the promise that one day there will be a new creation!  The fact that we have been saved is a picture or a down payment of the new creation that is to come!

John wrote about this new creation in Revelation 21.

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

In the end the only things that will be left are the things that find their source in God!  It will only be good and perfect gifts that come from above!  No more sin and death!

Application:

When we live as new creatures, we are showing what God will do in this world!  Is your testimony, and your words telling the world about God’s good and perfect gifts that are here now and that will come one day?  Tell someone today about what God has done for them.