Of His Own Will

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18)

“Of his own will”, of God’s elect, the chosen is the “word of truth” given to. It is the chosen who comprehends and rejoices in this truth. To the others God’s word is a mystery, silliness and even evil.

It is through God’s word of truth that His elect is made “a kind of firstfruits”. Scripture tells us to judge a tree by the fruit that it bears. We are that fruit. The world looks at us to judge God. Are we faithful ministers?

A minister by definition means to serve (verb) or to be a servant (noun).  A minister as a title and position needs to embody the spirit of divine servitude. This means that holiness and righteousness are the foundation, point, and purpose of the deed. God is the cause of the deed. He is also the recipient.

Good works and deeds in of themselves are just that, good works and deeds. These don’t honor God on their own, for the devil himself can do these things, and does, daily.

The word of truth cleanses the heart and soul, restoring us back to God. The good that we do now is rooted in God. We are the branch that is attached to the divine tree. The good that is manifest through us is by a righteous nature and not of carnal necessity or want. Only good can flow from the soul unfettered by sin.

“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” (Matthew 7:10)

The righteous soul seeks the will of God. Doing His will satisfies and gratifies us and pleases Him.

The carnal spirit in a man seeks self in all that he does. There must be gain in pleasure, power, or wealth to motivate that soul into action. Helping another is not the nature of a Godless person. The will and ideology of the carnal self is itself, what it can take, consume, use, possess or dispense. No matter how good the deed, self must always be the beneficiary, not the benefactor.

The gain for the righteous in heart and spirit is God. He is our portion, our lot.

We are the first fruits of God. God created us by His will with the word of truth. Think about that for a moment. God has, “chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4)

We were made with the word of truth. Truth is our nature, our form and substance, and will. This is by design through God’s will. Anything that departs from this is sin and not of God.

We are the first fruits of God. Let us shine and act as such.

Bill Hitchcock