First Fruits

The Idea of a First Fruits offering stems from early days of Israel's history.  Have a read of Deuteronomy 26 and see how it all worked back then.
As the Bible progresses the First Fruits idea remains quiet prevalent with 3 main ideas around it:
1. Thanks for God's provision, both physically and spiritually.
         Duet 26 - Is thanks for the promise land and what it produces food wise
                    but it is als thanks for our salvation from our suffering in Egypt
2. As an act of obedinace - this is the way the Levites and the needy were looked after
         The Isralites were required to bring this offering annualy as part of the way the community
                    kept running
3. As a deposit of a promise
         There is also a sense bringing the first fruit was an act of faith. It was brought at the
                    begining of the season - before the blessings had been fully recieved.
    The New Testement takes this idea even further:
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" 1Cor15:20
"but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" Rom 8:23

And here is an interesting one:

"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created" James1:18
Our whole lives become a firstfruits offering:    

ARE YOU:        Giving Thanks       Living Obediantly       Hope for Others

This Sunday come prepared to bring your first fruits offering :-  Praise, Financial, Faith