Take some of the firstfruits . . . from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in . . . the place the Lord your God will choose. (Deut. 26:2)
Expanded Passage: Deuteronomy 26: 2-8
“What have you got to show for all that time overseas?” Charles chided me. “Despite your college degree, you’re broke and you’re working in a retail store’s freight department!”
I laughed. We will always face opposition, hardship and mocking words. Israel certainly did. They went into Egypt thinking it was the promised land—rich in food, grazing lands and money—only to become impoverished slaves. Yet God was with them, expanding a mere seventy-five persons to over a million. As they departed, the Egyptians lavished rich gifts upon them, but the real gift was God with them, a pillar of cloud by day and a column of fire by night—shade in heat and light in darkness.
COVID-19 shut down schools, including my school on the Africa Mercy, ship so with God as my shade and my light I returned to Oregon and went to work in a store. I was delighted to deposit that first check in my bank account and write a tithe for God. What a privilege to participate in his work, even when church doors were closed, and our medical ship was shut down!
Moses commanded Israel to bring the firstfruits of their labors to their priest, declaring, “I have come to the land the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.” I, too, have come into God’s promised kingdom!
Bring to God the firstfruits of what he has given you.
Kim Robinson is a retired teacher who enjoys working with children’s ministries at her local Wesleyan church right down the street.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
