October 8 - October 29, 2023

First Fruits

In ancient times, God’s people gave the first fruit offering after the annual spring harvest as a gift of gratitude for God’s generous provision. The ritual first started after the miraculous escape from Egypt when God demanded that all the Israelites dedicate the first offspring of their flocks and families to God. How can this ancient practice help us reset our priorities, deepen our gratitude, and enlarge our hearts to be generous to the vulnerable?

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.

– Proverbs 3:9 (NIV)