It's the beginning of the year. It always starts off with such promise and expectancy. The first few days of January are when people make resolutions to change their habits, improve their relationships, and better their lives. January first, for me, is always tinged with an almost palpable air or excitement. It's a day that promises to the world that the next 365 days will be different, better, than the last 365 days were.
So why is it that 360 days later, we find ourselves making the same old resolutions we did last year? Over and over again, year after year, we promise ourselves the same old things on January 1st, and then never follow through on them. We repeatedly resolve to make better habits, but the only real habit that we're making is the habit of breaking our resolutions to ourselves.
And what do these resolutions usually involve? Lose weight, get in shape, make more money, be a better friend. Small wonder that we never keep our resolutions. We are told in the Bible to "seek Him first, and then all these things will be added." How is your relationship with the Lord going? Are you seeking Him first? Are you chasing after Him, and letting Him determine the course of your life?
In Leviticus, the Lord commands us to give Him the first fruits of our labor. This goes beyond wheat and oil. God wants the first fruits of everything - including our very lives. So instead of a new year's resolution, here's a new year's challenge: give God your first fruits. Seek Him early and daily, and let Him take over your life. You'll be amazed at how many of those previously broken promises to yourself come true when God is guiding you.
So why is it that 360 days later, we find ourselves making the same old resolutions we did last year? Over and over again, year after year, we promise ourselves the same old things on January 1st, and then never follow through on them. We repeatedly resolve to make better habits, but the only real habit that we're making is the habit of breaking our resolutions to ourselves.
And what do these resolutions usually involve? Lose weight, get in shape, make more money, be a better friend. Small wonder that we never keep our resolutions. We are told in the Bible to "seek Him first, and then all these things will be added." How is your relationship with the Lord going? Are you seeking Him first? Are you chasing after Him, and letting Him determine the course of your life?
In Leviticus, the Lord commands us to give Him the first fruits of our labor. This goes beyond wheat and oil. God wants the first fruits of everything - including our very lives. So instead of a new year's resolution, here's a new year's challenge: give God your first fruits. Seek Him early and daily, and let Him take over your life. You'll be amazed at how many of those previously broken promises to yourself come true when God is guiding you.
Leviticus 23:9-14
9 The LORD said to Moses, 10 "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. 11 He is to wave the sheaf before the LORD so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. 12 On the day you wave the sheaf, you must sacrifice as a burnt offering to the LORD a lamb a year old without defect, 13 together with its grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil - a food offering presented to the LORD, a pleasing aroma - and its drink offering of a quarter of a hin of wine. 14 You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.
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