THE INHERITANCE THAT IS GOD'S PRIDE
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
Ephesians 1:18 (NLT)
My wife and I recently had a son. He's a joyous little boy who loves people. He's constantly observing the world and always wants to be moving and as active as possible. As he continues to grow, my wife and I keep learning new things about him, connecting certain qualities back to each of us, and excitedly sharing these findings with loved ones. When people see him next to my wife, they know he's her son, and the joy and pride on her face light up the room.
Our love isn't just about what he does but about who he is—our son. Even when he screams like a banshee or pees on a poor, unfortunate soul, he's still our son. The actions and consequences aren't ideal, but they don't change his connection to us.
The Bible bends over backward to help us see God as Father. Jesus came as God's Son so we could see that relationship and share in it. When we openly declare and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord, we become His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance. Our sin and its consequences need to be sanctified, but they don't change our connection to Him.
When we look at ourselves, we primarily see the past. We see mistakes, missed opportunities, failures and disappointments. For the believer, God sees your future! He sees who you are in Christ and who you'll grow into down the road as you continue to follow Him. He sees His masterpiece (more on this when you get to Ephesians 10). You're part of His glorious inheritance, His treasure, His pride and His joy. What would change if you walked in that confidence, that reality today?
APPLICATION: Ask God how He delights in you. Listen, write down what He tells you, and remind yourself that you're His rich and glorious inheritance. Ask Him to show you how you can further delight in Him today.
PRAYER: God, thank You for delighting in me. What is it about me that lights up Your face? Show me things about You that will light up mine. Amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don’t let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?