How to Give Our Best For God

Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 8, 2017

It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes]. James 1:18, AMP

To give God my best is to first acknowledge that He owns everything about me, as I am the first fruit of His creation. I have been birthed by God to give my best for God. My life as a living sacrifice is consecrated to Christ as an offering, so my work, my play, my relationships, my resources are all an opportunity to bring glory to the Lord in my service for the Lord. Just as Jesus gave Himself up for others to the pleasure of His heavenly Father, so I am to do the same.

James describes the vivid picture of harvest illustrated by God’s first fruits: the human race. People are the pinnacle of His creation, His workmanship in Christ created to do good works. Just as the first and best produce from a fall harvest was given in praise and thanksgiving to God, so followers of Jesus give their best by first setting themselves apart to the work of the Lord, made holy for His divine purposes. God’s will is for His children to willingly give their best for God.

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13).

Do you manage your finances as first fruits from your heavenly Father? Evidence of your best for God is generosity with the gross amount of your finances. Not leftovers when all has been spent on yourself and only a sparse amount is left for your Savior, but a regular tithe right off the top to be sown into God’s Kingdom. You do your best for the Lord when you are first generous with His blessings to you. You are a conduit to pass along what God has entrusted to you.

Another way to give your best for God is to start your day with your Creator. Invest the first waking hour to your Savior Jesus and He will save you time by adjusting your agenda. Gently, He will show you what to say, where to go, what to do, all in a spirit of grace and boldness. Most of all, use the seed corn of your salvation to sow seeds of truth in the soil of lost souls, and enjoy the Spirit’s heavenly harvest. You give your best for God by boldly giving the gospel as you go!

“Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together” (John 4:35-36).

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