The Feast of First Fruits

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Happy Easter!

Today is Easter and it's also the Feast of First Fruits. Down below are some insights into First Fruits from my book 7 Dates With Jesus.

This day is a reminder that the stone was rolled away, and Jesus is risen, the First Fruits from the dead. This time of year is a reminder for us to clean out our old ways(we all have some unlearning to do) and embrace a new way of living. 

When Jesus rose from the dead the stone was rolled away from the tomb. Years ago on Easter, God showed me the connection to the stone being rolled away and a passage in the book of Joshua, where God told the people that he had rolled away the reproach of Egypt from them. Reproach is condemnation and guilt. The Bible says we used to have hearts of stone, but God rolled away the stone of our old heart and gave us a new heart with his laws written on our hearts(Check out Ezekial 36:26). 

Our hearts are like soil and this new heart God gave us is good soil that he has planted his seed in. God's seed contains the Spirit of Jesus, which has now been planted in our hearts. 1 Peter 1:23 says that we have been born of an imperishable seed. And in this seed is everything needed for life and godliness. Think about an apple seed. In the little seed is everything needed to make apple trees and apples that contain more seeds. An entire orchard is hidden in a tiny seed. 

In a similar way the seed God planted in our hearts has a lot in it. Here is some of what God planted within us.

• Romans 8:11 says the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you and will bring life to your mortal body.
• In Luke 17:21 Jesus says the kingdom of God is within you
• Colossians 1:27 says Christ is in you, the hope of glory
• Colossians 2:3 says in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
• 2 Corinthians 4:7 says we have treasure in earthen vessels

If we are supposed to have the fruit of the Spirit it has to start with the seed of the Spirit. We already have all of the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, and faith we will ever need, but God gave it to us in seed form, and we have a part to play in helping to cultivate the seed. We can create the culture for growth by abiding in him. Understanding this should change the way we pray. For example, instead of praying for patience we should ask God to help us cultivate the patience he has already given us. 

God planted his seed in our heart, which means we are part of his family and we have an amazing inheritance. But, we have a role to play in cultivating what he already put within us, because an inheritance gained hastily will not be blessed in the end. 

In today's communion we are thanking God that Jesus is risen, he has rolled away our hearts of stone, given us new hearts, and he has planted his seed in our hearts, and in that seed is everything we need. And we are asking him for help to cultivate the seed and remain patient as it grows, because we inherit the promises through faith and patience. 

Today's Workout/Health Tip

These insights into Easter and First Fruits have some practical application to health and fitness. We must learn to look within to what God has planted in us. Our bodies have strength, energy, endurance, health, etc waiting to be tapped into on the inside. But, as we learn to cultivate this we must stay patient because it takes some time to see the fruit. In all things health and fitness lets learn to imitate God by starting small and working from the inside out. Everything in the kingdom starts with a seed, and Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like the tiniest seed around... a mustard seed. 

I am praying for you. 

Daniel

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