For What It’s Worth… Heirs of God

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:15-17a).
Heirs of God! That has profound implications for our life. Because if you know your identity (and your future is assured) those realities have real world significance.
Imagine with me…

You are sitting quietly at your home/apartment and the phone rings. It is a lawyer’s office. The woman from the law office, after pleasantries and then verifying that you are indeed the individual she is trying to reach… then shares with you that you are named in a particular person’s will. She
says the name of the person she is representing and you remember that name from many years ago. You remember the name and it comes to you as quite a surprise that evidently they have named you as a beneficiary in their “Last will and testament”. They were not a relative but they were a friend during one chapter of your life. They were thinking of you…and that simple reality lifts your spirits. Well, beyond the honor of being remembered, it turns out that your old friend was rich. And, that you are now the sole heir to a fortune! So much so, that you as a result of their generous gift will not have to worry about money again.

Can you imagine… Discovering that you now had financial security…beyond any personal reasonable expectation. Major financial worries are over in your life! That part of the life is now assured.

Now….If that scenario happened, how would you feel? What would you do? Or, more to the point… what would you do differently?

And here I don’t mean what would you run out and buy; though I suspect that most of us would treat ourselves to something – but I mean something more along the lines of – what would be different about your day-to-day: practices, attitudes, habits, and worldview? How does knowing that your financial future is now absolutely secured… change your present day life?

I only ask because it’s just this scenario that the Apostle Paul is describing in these few verses above. According to Paul, we are not only God’s children, we are heirs! We are not just heirs, but joint-heirs with Christ! Wow!

Now, pause here for just a moment and consider further what Paul is really saying…God considers us joint-heirs (that is, equal inheritors) of all God has to give! We are Joint Heirs– with Christ…God’s only begotten Son! Friends, not only that, but Paul goes on to describe the difference this makes: Rather than being afraid (of the future, of what people may think of us, of our status, of our standing with God) – Paul invites us to boldly embrace a framework (of assurance, of identity, of courage) – because, we are adopted by God!… and invited into the full measure of God’s blessings and riches!

This, friends, is a perspective changing event!…which not only changes our future but also has the profound ability to change our here and now! Thanks be to God! May we live life each day… knowing that we are heirs of God!

Blessings,

Your Pastor,

Scott <><