“Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:18).
In the Old Testament, God authorized the Feast of Harvest (Exodus 23:16). Because it began fifty days after the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the first day of the weeklong feast became known as Pentecost (the Greek word for 50). The most significant ceremony of this feast—which occurred just before the start of the barley and wheat harvests—was the presentation of the nation’s firstfruits to God. Observing this feast and giving God “the cream of the crop” was an act of love and devotion.
With this background at his disposal, James’ use of the phrase “a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” provides a breathtaking glimpse into God’s unfathomable love.
Of all the glorious things Jehovah has created—the universe, the angelic host, the solar system, the human race—the “cream of the crop” is that body of people who have been brought forth by the word of truth. These sons of God are literally in a class by themselves.
What a priceless, precious gift is His word of truth which inherently has the imperishable ability to regenerate us (1 Peter 1:22-23), build us up, and give us an inheritance among all the saints (Act 20:32).
In Christ, the redeemed are the cream of the crop.
