So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. ~Galatians 4:7 (ESV)
What does it mean to be a son of God? What does it mean to be an heir of God? Many people think of an heir as someone who inherits or is entitled to inherit property and that is true, but there is much more to being an heir when you are an heir to a king. Children born into royalty do not tend to think about their monetary inheritance as much as they do the responsibilities they will be “inheriting”. They aren’t just carrying on the family name. They have a job to do and it’s not an easy one. They have to lead and if they are going to be a good leader, they also have to live their lives in such a way that they are an example to others. Great kings and queens are groomed from birth. What they think about, who they spend their time with and what they allow to come out of their mouths must be calculated so as to maintain complete integrity because it takes integrity to stand before and lead anyone, otherwise it is just a dictatorship. Sometimes we take our position in Christ much more lightly than we should. Scripture teaches we are made to be kings and priests to God, and we are to reign on earth and Lord knows we aren’t going to reign over anything until we learn to reign over our own souls; which is our minds, our wills and our emotions.
God wants His people to personify Jeremiah 17:8 “They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (NIV) As children of God we have to learn to live by faith, to be independent of any person or anything. A mature Christian is someone who looks to God for both guidance and for their needs to be met. Many of us want to live any old way we want and then look to God to meet our needs because we have read in Philippians 4:19 that “God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) But God says there is more to being His heir than just receiving an inheritance of monetary prosperity. God says His heirs have “good works” that have been prepared in advance for them to do. What “good works” are you doing today? Who have you helped out of a jam lately or been a witness to the goodness of God to? We should all be flourishing under the care of our heavenly Father, but to do that we have to trust Him with every detail of our lives, and we also have to live our lives in the way that would bring honor and glory to His name because we are all royalty in God’s sight. Scripture says we are joint heirs with Christ and stewards of all that God has, which is everything you see. Our job as faithful stewards of all that God owns is to cooperate with Him to make things on earth just as they are in heaven. We are to bring what God has in the heavenlies into this world by faith and dispense Gods goodness in every way, everywhere we go. We are called to pray for the sick, give to the poor and turn our cheeks when we are persecuted. That is a big call. We are also called oaks of righteousness planted along the riverbanks. A tree planted by the water stands tall and strong and does not fear the heat or worry about it’s ability or supply and neither should we. Stand strong today knowing who you are in Christ Jesus because you were born again to reign!
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ~Luke 12:32 (ESV)
Who have you helped out of a jam lately or been a witness to the goodness of God to?
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