Title
God's Firstborn
Scripture
"For God has made me forget all my toil..." And the name of the second he called Ephraim
(Genesis 41:51-52)
Devotional
There is much to be learned about the term "Firstborn." Manasseh was Joseph's physically firstborn, but God said in Jeremiah 31:9, "Ephraim is My firstborn."[11] The term is used over 140 times in the scriptures. The firstborn is next in line for leadership and the first to receive the inheritance. We are called the church of the firstborn.[12] Christ is called the Firstborn over all creation and the firstborn from the dead.[13] The physically firstborn may have nothing but toil and hardship. The spiritually firstborn has inherited the blessing and is to be fruitful in all that he or she does. If you belong to Christ, you have received the blessing of the firstborn. Now it is up to you to prosper and to be fruitful, even in the land of affliction. It matters not your status in life, in Christ you are God's firstborn and heir to the promise.