First Fruits of Creation

From today's reading:  Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.  James 1:17-18

Our lesson from James was the inspiration for one of the songs we sang in campus ministry in Huntsville  – “Father of Lights – you delight in your children.”  It goes on to say, “Every good and perfect gift comes from you…”  The lesson says that God’s purpose was to give us birth so that we might become the first fruits of his creation.  Now you realize that in most of scripture, we are enjoined to offer back to God the first fruits of our labor and here is this scripture that tells us that WE ourselves are the first fruits of God’s creation.  

That is absolutely amazing – we are the first fruits of God’s creation.  We are the best – the first and foremost.  Have you ever stood on the top of a mountain?  And looked out at what God has created?  Have you ever sat by a bubbling brook in a forest and watched the water splashing and tripping over the stones as it rushes down to the sea?  Have you ever looked out at the sunset – or sunrise and seen the glory of God written across the sky in an ever changing way that can only be created by God?   Or how about watching a rose unfold, or felt the delicate petals of an orchid, and wondered that God counts us above all that – as worthy above all that?   

Come to Grace Episcopal Church in Alvin for the rest of today's sermon.....