In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

When an inventor creates a new device, they have a specific purpose in mind. They are not random or aimless in their design, but intentional and precise, formulating each piece to contribute to their goal. When God created us, He also had a specific design and purpose in mind. He thoughtfully crafted us to reflect Him as those made in His image. In creating the world, He gave us all we needed to reflect Him and live with Him. Yet, sin tells us to do the opposite; it tells us to go our own way instead of God’s, to follow what we feel is best instead of looking to Him. Instead of giving up on His creation, God pursued us in love, fixed what was broken, and solved our greatest need in Christ. Even as we have walked away from Him, He has moved toward us. Because of His redemption and forgiveness, we receive the blessing of being His.

In day-to-day life, instead of moving toward God because of His love for us, we often treat Him as a side character in our story. Still, God’s design has not changed, and His path forward is still available. Whether you have felt distant from God, struggle to see the path to grow, or even feel like investing in relationship with Him feels irrelevant to your life, He has not changed His purpose or plan for you. Through life with Him, we meet our purpose and He brings us forth as His first fruits.

• What is the hard about living in a relationship with God day-to-day? What are some distractions from living this way?
• How does God’s purpose for you change the way you live each day?
• Pray and ask God what it looks like to reflect Him in your life, confessing the ways you have fallen short.