Verse of the day: Leviticus 2:14-15 “If you offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, grain beaten from full heads. 15 And you shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it. It is a grain offering.”
The firstfruit offering was to be brought differently than the grain offering. It was considered a freewill offering. It was not required by law. In essence, the firstfruit offering was a test of the Israelites’ faith, and said a lot about their trust in God. The firstfruits were offerings of fine flour, made from wheat, before it was ripe, burned and beaten. What is significant about it is that by giving this grain before it was completely ripe meant giving of their crops without the assurance that the ground would produce more grain for them and their families. It required faith and trust in knowing that God would provide for them, in some way, whether from that same ground or by some other means. How willing are we to trust God that much? How many of us, if we did not have the means to buy more food, would be willing to give all the food in our home to the homeless and the hungry, in the Name of Jesus? How many of us, in our service to the Lord, would give away all our money to help the poor and the needy, not knowing when, or how, we were going to have more money? What material belonging would we give in our service to the Lord, not knowing whether or not it was going to be replaced? This is the kind of trust that was being asked of the Israelites. This firstfruit offering was an offering that could be given by both the rich and the poor. In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus used the example of the poor widow who gave two mites (two copper coins worth a fraction of a penny) to teach His disciples what it means to give in accordance to how much we trust the LORD. Why did Jesus hold her in such high esteem? Today, there are some who would be ashamed to give so little. However, we must stop and think about what she really gave. Jesus pointed out that everyone else gave out of the abundance of their treasure, while she gave everything she had. In other words, if we have fifty dollars and give ten, we have given out of our abundance. If all we have is two pennies, and we give two pennies, we have given it all. There is a big difference between giving out of our abundance, and giving in accordance to our abundance. If we give out of our abundance, we give ten out of fifty dollars. If we give in accordance to our abundance, we might give forty eight, or even fifty, out of our fifty dollars. When we compare how much she gave, in comparison to what everyone else gave, she proved that she had greater faith and trust. When we give God our best, and when we give it abundantly, as a way of saying thank you and as a means of worshipping God, we show great trust and faith. What we are saying to God is, “Lord, I trust you completely to take care of me and my needs.” There will be times when we will be moved, by the Spirit of God, to give something that is precious to us, whether it be our time, our talents, our monies, our material belongings, or anything else God asks for, and it may not make any sense to us. However, Proverbs 3:5-6 tell us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” The first part of the next verse, verse 7, tells us not be to wise in our own eyes. The firstfruit offering was to be prepared with oil and frankincense. In a previous devotional we said that this represented the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, because all that we give God, whether by our own free will, or out of obedience, must be done in the Spirit, and in Christ, if it is to be worthy of heavenly reward or value. However, the adding of oil and frankincense also made this offering more valuable (earthly-speaking), and more sacrificial, in that it would require more from those who did not have much to begin with. In other words, we should always be willing to give to God, even if it means we have to sacrifice to give it. Our walk with the Lord, if we are truly walking with Him, depends on faith and trust; trusting that He will take care of us no matter where He leads us, or what He requires of us. We show that trust when we freely offer the best of ourselves and the best from what He has allowed us to have. When we see what this poor widow gave, it also eliminates that excuse, “But I don’t have much to give.” It does not matter how much we have to give, just give whatever you have. The little boy who had five loaves and two fish witnessed a great miracle and blessing on the day He gave Jesus his little lunch (in its entirety). With the little he gave, Jesus did something great…He fed five thousand men and their families (Matthew 14:13-21). What kind of blessings are we missing out by not trusting God with what He has asked us to freely give Him, as a way to show Him how much we truly trust Him?
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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