How can we apply the principle of offering firstborn to God in our lives? God’s Claim on the Firstborn: Then and Now “ ‘But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat. They are holy. You are to sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.’ ” (Numbers 18:17) • Literally, every firstborn male of clean animals belonged exclusively to God. • The act declared two unchanging truths: – God owns everything (Psalm 24:1). – What He claims as His must not be kept for ourselves. Seeing the Pattern Across Scripture • Exodus 13:2 — “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male… it is Mine.” • Proverbs 3:9–10 — “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits…” • Luke 2:22–24 — Mary and Joseph present Jesus, the Firstborn, at the temple. • Colossians 1:15, 18 — Christ is “the firstborn over all creation… that in everything He might have the preeminence.” • Romans 12:1 — Offer your bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” What “Offering the Firstborn” Teaches Us Today 1. Priority — God gets the first and the best, not the leftovers. 2. Ownership — We are stewards; nothing truly belongs to us. 3. Redemption — The blood of the Firstborn-Son, Jesus, secures our standing with God. 4. Continuity — While animal sacrifice is fulfilled in Christ, the heart-posture it pictured remains. Practical Ways to Live the Principle • Finances: Set aside the first portion of every paycheck for the Lord (Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 16:2). • Time: Begin each day and week with Scripture and worship, acknowledging His rule over your schedule. • Family: Dedicate children to God’s purposes, praying and planning for them to know and serve Him (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). • Talents: Offer the best of your skills for ministry and for the good of others, not merely for personal gain (1 Peter 4:10-11). • Decisions: Run major choices through the filter, “Does this keep God first?” (Matthew 6:33). • Possessions: Hold material goods loosely, ready to release them when He directs (Acts 2:45; Hebrews 13:16). Why It Matters: Worship, Witness, and Joy • Worship — Putting God first proclaims His worth above all. • Witness — A life that visibly prioritizes God invites others to ask why He matters so much. • Joy — When He receives the first and best, He often multiplies the rest, blessing us in ways only He can (Proverbs 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:8). |
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