Skip to main content

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
James 1:17-18 NIV
Firstfruits.
Trials, perserverance, maturity, and our good, unchanging God.
Chosen.
And we end up here.
Some kind of firstfruits.
Deuteronomy 26 talks about firstfruits.
They come from cultivation. The work of someone's hands.
If we are a kind of firstfruits we are shaped, cultivated, by the word of truth.
God's Word
The person of Jesus
We don't read then God's word, look at Jesus life, death, resurrection, for information, but cultivation.
Problem is I don't want to be shaped or changed by someone else.
I'm selfish.
And stubborn.
Lord, let your word shape me, change me, make me fruit for your kingdom. Overwhelm my selfishness with your grace today.
Amen
#james
#james1
#firstfruits
#changedbygrace
#Godsgym

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,  for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16 NLT OK so this is an English translation of a letter Paul wrote to a church 2,000 years ago, but does it feel like Paul is wrestling with words and ideas to try and capture all of who Jesus is, of who God is, of how does it work that the walking around Jesus was also there before the beginning of the beginning of everything we can see and touch and know. Not only that but Jesus was somehow the agent of everything that has been made in the physical, social, and spiritual.  Jesus is at the centre of it all.  Walking around Jesus. Cooking fish for breakfast Jesus. Heart aching as he ...
Post a Comment
Read more
...four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn't bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus... Mark 2:3-4 NLT Great account of inventiveness and determination to get their friend to see Jesus. Love this. Do you wonder about the back story? Are these the same 4 people who bring this man food? Take him to the toilet every day. Clean him up. Does he live with one of them? Are they family? Are there whole families or groups of people in the background who have supported and cared for this man? A group of children who grew up seeing their parents love in action? Probably. Healing Help Hope These things are found in community. These 4 guys are the heroes here. The upfront people. One day it will be interesting to see who the background heroes are. #loveinaction #community #inthistogether #walkingeachotherhome #gospelofmark
Post a Comment
Read more
I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people.  Philemon 1:4-5 NLT Philemon's testimony is given by others. His reputation is faith in Jesus and love for others. I wonder if we tend to see the externals (she's a great teacher, he's a wonderful worship leader) and miss character, heart, the whole person?  Whatever it is that Philemon does, others see faith in Jesus and love for others, and that's what Paul recognises as important. It's a heart thing. Our culture, our world wants us to focus on performance, rewards performance, yet, even as we look at the Olympics and marvel at human performance, it's the moments when we see people's hearts, what makes them tick, the emotions, hear what's important to them, that is what sticks and makes the games special. Paul's sharing of what he knows of Philemon's heart and motivation is an invitation to go...
Post a Comment
Read more