May 3, 2001
Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest;
all who devoured her were held guilty,
and disaster overtook them,'" declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 2:3
When God planned to give the Israelites an inheritance in the Promised Land out of all he'd created he chose 'people'... us to be his inheritance! Despite what Israel was like on a day to day basis (and how we can be today) God has stood behind his commitment and his promise fiercely!! In this verse his people are referred to as the firstfruits.. the same concept. In Lev 22:10-16 God outlines how an offering to the Lord should be regarded.. no one except the priests could eat a sacred offering. if they did either intentionally or unintentionally restitution needed to be made. It is with this same heart that God watches over us, we are a sacred offering to him and he dealt with nations that devoured (ate) his people. This amazes me... if I had gotten me as an inheritance many days I'd be inclined to turn it down :-) but that is NEVER God's heart!!! On my best day I'm so far from everything I need and want to be but God never gives up, never sends me back with the reject stamp on my forehead. His love exists at a depth I can barely understand, he is determined that I will feel his love for me and for me to see that in greater ways!