Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
The first few words of this verse, girls, are worship worthy! He brought us forth of His own will. Meditate on that. He brought us forth because He wanted to. It was His desire to bring us forth into new life. We did not earn it or deserve it. It was His will and His grace to do it. His unmerited, unwarranted favor in Christ Jesus. I am amazed by this. I know who I was before the Lord reached down and saved me. I am a woman who has been forgiven much. I think of the Phil Wickham song "Cannons", "You are holy great and mighty The moon and the stars declare who You are I'm so unworthy, but still You love me Forever my heart will sing of how great You are." So unworthy and yet He loves me....Unfathomable grace! By this spiritual birth we become His children and since a birth cannot be undone, we are His children forever. John 1:12-13 says this:
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Reading on the agent used to bring forth this new birth is the Word of God. The Spirit of God uses the word of God to bring forth this miracle. Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 tells us this "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." and finally James 1:21 tells us to "lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." 1 Peter 1:23 tells us that our new birth is unfailing and permanent because we are born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. Are you getting the picture...there is no rebirth apart from the Spirit of God and the word of God.
The last part of the verse says we who are born again are a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. James wrote to Jewish believers, and the word firstfruits would be meaningful to them. Proverbs 3:9 says “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase” Everything comes from the Lord and belongs to Him. The Christian Jews to whom James wrote were some of the very first believers. The firstfruits of Christ's harvest so to speak. They would be followed by others throughout the years. By you and by me. All believers are a kind of firstfruits and as such we should offer ourselves as living sacrifices to our Lord. We came from Him, we belong to Him and we are to devote our lives in service to Him.
Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Total and utter commitment is our reasonable service. Nothing less for Him who died for us.
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
- When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride. - Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood. - See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown? - Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Isaac Watts
Love
Mom
