Ordinary Times
February 28, 2022
Scripture Reading:
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
you shall make this response before the Lord your God: ‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.’ You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house. –Deuteronomy 26:5-11
Because God loves us so much and cares for us, it is only right that we return to God the first fruits of our labor. As a child, I did not enjoy working in the garden, but I delighted in its first fruits. My dad would cut the first ripe watermelon in the field and share it with the family. My mother was just as fond of the first red ripe tomato. This scripture requires us to assess what our first fruits are. What of our skills and talents do we offer to God? Does God get our leftovers or do we dedicate our whole being to the Lord, starting with serving God with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and spirits?
One of our retired members loved to crochet and she was exceptionally creative and good at it. She spent an entire year making unique tree ornaments, tabletop Christmas trees, Afghans, and lap robes. She donated all of them to our alternative Christmas sale each year that raised money for local service programs and other mission projects. One of my most prized possessions is a beautiful Afghan she made. She indeed gave her first fruits+ to God and blessed each stitch she took with her love.
Prayer: Lord, guide us in identifying our first fruits and lead us to the best way to bless you with their outcomes. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.