In the Old Testament the children of Israel were required to bring the first of their produce of the ground to the house of God. This was known as the first-fruits offering. It was holy and set apart for the Lord. The Lord also declared all the firstborn of the fruit of the womb to be holy and were to be set apart to live for Him. This was done as a reminder of His hand on His people when the angle of death passed over Egypt before Pharaoh finally set them free. In the same way, we, the first-fruits of God’s new creation in Jesus, have been set apart and consecrated for Him. We have been set apart from the rest of the world. We are in this world, but we are not of this world (John 17:16). God has set us apart to carry His glory here on the earth. We are His bride and are expected to live in a way that our relationship with the Lord is our first priority. The more we make time to sit at the feet of Jesus, to listen to His voice, through His indwelling Holy Spirit, and keep His written word alive in our hearts, our lives are transformed to resemble His nature. Ephesians 5:26-27 tells us that our souls (intellect, will and emotions) are sanctified by the washing of the water of the word, so that we are glorious before the Lord, without spot or wrinkle, and holy without blemish. In John 17:17 Jesus says that we are sanctified by the word of truth, so our relationship with God’s word determines our readiness for His return. The more we give ourselves to the transforming work of the word, the more we resemble the bride Jesus will draw to Himself and carry away to the marriage feast. Let God’s word sanctify you so you are found ready, resembling His first-fruit.