Exodus 23:19a

As you reap each of your crops, bring me the choicest sample of the first day's harvest; it shall be offered to the Lord your God....


Since the early days of Israel's history God had a plan for His people to celebrate.  They celebrated Passover to commemorate their deliverance from death and Egyptian captivity.  They celebrate with feasts to remember God's blessings and His promises to them.   Feasts often incorporate a remembrance of the harvest.  God's people would bring their very best to the Temple to give thanks for His provision.  We too, are thankful in this season of the year for all that God has given to us.  We thank Him for the harvests of the past and the anticipated harvests we will reap in the future. Let us lift our highest praise and worship to our God who blesses us daily with His benefits.

Pastor John

Ephesians 4:1-3

I...beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation  wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness, and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of  peace.

These verses are from the READ initiative assignment last week.  The Greek word for endeavoring in verse 3 is defined as being earnest or diligent.  What we endeavor to do usually reveals our priorities or our purpose.  Our endeavor as Christians should be to keep the unity of the Spirit as we work together as the Body of Christ.  As we read all of Ephesians 4, we see that this unity actually makes individuals aware of their personal calling.  According to verse 12 it is for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying (or building up) of the body of Christ.  Let us all live our lives with this endeavor so that it will encourage everyone, and we will see our church grow in Christ as we grow closer to one another.

Pastor John