“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.[1]” (Ephesians 1:11-12 ESV)
The idea of an inheritance fascinates me. After being told again and again that I’ve been adopted by God through the work of Christ, now I receive an inheritance? How is it possible!
I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time fathoming the idea. Why is it hard to believe we have a true inheritance? Our past is messy. We come from homes that are broken, or didn’t exist. It’s as if we were children living on the streets. No one cared about us, at least no one did much more than look our way and quickly turn aside. To go from a hungry orphan, who has been lied to her whole life, to a child of the King is wildly overwhelming. We suddenly have Someone who not only wants to protect us, but can actually provide for us. No longer are lies served to our itching ears, we hear the Truth. Sometimes the truth is hard. We’ve lived with lies about our value. We heard early that we are worthless. We heard, “No one cares.” We saw it confirmed in our hunger and desires that were never met. We were out in the cold with nothing to cover us.
Then Someone loved us. He saw us outside, aching with hunger, crawling with lies, freezing in the cold. Instead of running away, He ran to us.
He cared enough to give His life for us! Is it hard to go from starving to full, from an orphan with no hope to a child with an inheritance?
He has done the work.
Why is it hard? There have been lies told so deep inside of us that we cannot seem to get them out. But the truth is there still. The glorious reality is that the truth wins!
Truth was winning. Truth is winning. Truth will always win.
If we feel undeserving of God’s adoption, forgiveness, inheritance that is because we are! That is the whole, entire point. Salvation, adoption, and a sealed inheritance are fully dependent on our Living Savior!
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.[2]” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)
This is the truth, our having a hard time grasping it does not change it. So, dear friend, let’s believe the truth in this moment, in this day. In Christ we have obtained an inheritance. We have been predestined according to the purpose of God, who works all things according to the counsel of His will. Let’s join Paul and hope in Christ and praise His glory. Our purpose is to praise Him and glorify Him.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:3-5 ESV)
A Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me, right where I was and here where I am. Thank you for the inheritance that I do not deserve. Thank You, God, for eternally being my loving Father. You are enough. You satisfy. I will praise You. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Questions to Ponder:
When have you struggled with the grace God has given you?
What passages of Scripture mean the most to you? Why?
Songs to Enjoy:
When I think of identity in Christ and Ephesians, I think of the film Overcomer, which came out last August. Here’s a wonderful song called Enough by Koryn Hawthorne from that film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqavwKIvtk4
Here is a song that is all about this position we find ourselves in through Christ. I hope you enjoy Complete in Thee (lyrics by Aaron Wolfe and melody by Ben Nyce) sung by Ben Everson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL7BUro0M7k
References:
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 1:11–12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 2:8–9). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[1] Foulkes, F. (1989). Ephesians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 10, p. 64). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
