Scripture
Every good and perfect gift from above comes down from the Father of heavenly lights who doesn't change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through a word of truth that we might become a kind of first-fruit of all He created.
Observation
Every good and perfect gift comes from above. This does not mean they everything I like comes from God. There are things that appeal to my fallen nature which I might deem to be good but which are definitely not from God. Other things that are good for me and are from God I might not consider to be pleasing.
God has chosen to give us a new birth so that we can be offered back to Him. The phrase “first-fruits of creation” does not refer to being the first in time but rather the portion that is given back to God as an offering.
Since we are to be offered to God we need to ensure that we are suitable for that purpose, living a life that honours Him.
Application
God pours blessing after abundant blessing into our lives. The greatest of these gifts is salvation- eternity spent with God in a life that commences now.
Because my life is to be spent in the presence of God, I need to be ensuring that I am consecrated to Him. Every false or unclean thing needs to be removed. Sexual sin, gossip, anger, pride etc. must be repented of.
We must daily spend time in the Word of God, testing our lives against Scripture. This is not bondage but freedom because under the grace of the Holy Spirit we are set free form the chains of sin, bad habits and ungodly attitudes that all keep us captive.
Prayer
Thank you Father for the blessings and perfect gifts you pour into my life. Let me be consecrated to your purposes, pure and holy before you. Amen.
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