Inheritance - Kingdom Stuff

For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name. [Psalm 61.5]

One word sticks out to me today from the verse above: inheritance.

Now, that word, inheritance, with all it implies, is fantastic. However, without understanding the conditions for it, it's impact will not be realized.

Those who fear God's name are the recipients of God's inheritance.

I know there are so many different teachings and movements in Christianity that give us 'steps' to receiving good things from God. I know also that there is nothing short of hatred between opposing views of what God's blessing actually is.

I refuse to join sides. What is accomplished by all the division?

Instead, I wish to fear God. I wish to serve God. I wish to represent God. I wish to be like Jesus. I wish to please God.

The thing is (as I always say), the inheritance spoken of above is conditional. Even "in Christ" we must understand that "in Christ" is a condition to be met!

What's more, the inheritance spoken of above implies much, much more than just what's in it for me!

Again, the inheritance God has for His own is not an inheritance to be possessed, but an inheritance to be given - to be invested. Jesus spoke very clearly to that end in the parable of the three servants (parable of the talents) in Matthew 25. It must be remembered that Jesus likened this parable to the Kingdom of God (Heaven). In other words, this is Kingdom stuff.

If Jesus' life had to be condensed to one character trait, it would be selflessness. Now, do we still want to be like Jesus? It must be recognized however, that Jesus worked at this (we can't just assume He was God and therefore it came naturally). This fact is clearly seen in Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, "If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." [Matthew 26.39b]

Jesus clearly understood that His inheritance involved giving. For Him, it involved the ultimate sacrifice. But thank God, His ultimate sacrifice negated the need for that level of sacrifice (to save the world) ever again (so, we are off the hook there!). However, we are not off the hook for our responsibility to pass the inheritance on...

Father, help us to grasp the enormous responsibility of the inheritance You promised those who fear You!