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.
Study the Scriptures with Ben Jennings 
Heaven is so crazy to think about. I can only imagine what it’s going to be like, and I know God is going to blow my imagination away! I always think about how crazy it’s gonna be when I get to go to heaven, the place where there is no sin, no death, no sorrows, nothing bad, only greatness! It’s so amazing to get to be able to spend in an enternity there, with God and His son Jesus. It’s gonna be so cool to be able to ask God a million and one questions, cause I will! 🙂 it’ll be so neat to have Him tell us the stories that didn’t make it into the bible. Heaven is going to be incredible, and I’m SO lucky and grateful that I get to spend an eternity there.
I talk about God to people all the time, but am I telling them what gifts they are getting from Him here, and what they’ll recieve later in heaven? Honestly, that would be a no. I talk to the teens about it sometimes, but am I telling my friends at school or others? No.. This is something I need to start doing and that I’m going to pray God gives me the opportunity to do this today! These verses are great and make me feel so blessed!
Have a great friday at school guys! Praying that you all have a great day!
U can’t even put out into words how much God has done for us!!!!! He died for us on the cross. He payoff for our sins and died. And he deff rose 3 DAYS later!!!!! Thts amazing!!!! Heaven is an amazing place. Heaven the streets r made of gold. In heaven there is no sickeness. It’s just u and God spendingtime together. I have great news!!!!!! 😀 my great grand mother is still in the hospital but she is not in ICU anymore!!!! She is doing alot better!!! Thts amazing! Thanks for all ur prayers! Love u guys and c u Sunday!!! Have a good friday!!! 🙂
That’s awesome tristian!!! 😀
I think that the verse is saying that when you get to heaven there will be now sadness or crying or anybad stuff at all…I don’t know about you but I hope we have like a feast up there that would be awesome!!! 🙂 but let’s get back. I haven’t talked to alot of people about god or heaven or church ciz I’m alittle shy and scared about what they might say or do, but ik good will give me the coruage to talk about him well of course hehe! 🙂 and thank you Melanie I hope you Have a great day too 😀
No more sadness*
I think this verse is talking about when we get 2 heaven there will be no more sorrow,pain,saddnes or anything else bad! I’ve told a few people about Jesus but I think it goes in one ear and out the other.I’m not really that kind of person that starts coming up 2 people and talking 2 them,but thats not an excuse.I’m praying that God will give me courage to tell others about Jesus.this verse makes me think about that song that goes “no more sorrow no more pain,i will rise when he calls my name before my God fall on my knees and rise.i will rise”! P.S.,im not gonna be at church this Sunday.im gonna be out if town.Have a great friday!! 🙂
Like Tristan said I cant put in words how much he’s done for us heaven died for us its so amazing to think the creator of the universe sent his son for us….Just think about that 🙂 and I hope I can tell some one today! 🙂
its so awesome to think that God loves us so much to even live in heaven!
The gift of salvation is the best gift in the world!! Everyday I thank God for sending his only son to us.
It’s so crazy to think that God loved me enough to not only send His son to die a horrible death on the cross to save me, so I could have a relationship with Him here on earth. But He also has a home for me when I die! I get to spend eternity with Him, with no more pain, sickness, and nor more sin!!! That sounds like paradise, and I can’t wait to spend it with God! That sounds kinda weird, I can’t wait to die, but it’s not like I’m actually dying! That is only the beginning! Imagine living where there is NO sin, death, or pain at all!!! No more difficult circumstances to go through, just being with God and worshiping Him! That sounds pretty amazing to me! 😀
My testimony definitely needs some improvement, but thinking about all this stuff makes me want to tell everyone I can about Him! I don’t know about you guys, but when I go to paradise I want all of my loved ones to be there too! 🙂
I think its crazy that Jesus died for me, And because of that all of us who are saved get to have an eternity with God in Heaven! Paradise, where theres no hurt, sorrow, or bad things. Everything is perfect & good! 🙂 i dont deserve that at all. I know i love God with all my heart, and i live to serve Him. But if i were to be honest, i dont tell many people about the blessings God has given in my life or theirs. Sometimes bringing up my religion scares me, and idk why. My insecurities get in the way of what God wants me to do, which isnt cool! I know i want to be able to tell more people about God, and He’s slowly but surely helping me out 🙂
u guys r all doing great on here!!!!! 🙂
im so happy ur great grandma is doing better tristi!!!! 🙂
Thanks Ally! 🙂
I so agree with what Blake and Mafalda said and I cant think of how much it means to me that Jesus died for me! and everyone else and that when we die we are going to go to heave we hope and that in heaven there will be no sadness or crying you will be happy all the time and that is what God wonts he wont us to be happy and to be apart of his life!!!!!:D
Good job guys! Like you guys were saying because Jesus died on the cross and rose again we get to spend an eternity with Him in heaven. It’s unbelievable that all we have to do to have a relationship with God is to believe and Ask Him to be our savior.