The Family Inheritance

Read: Romans 8:16-25

Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. Romans 8:17

IN WORD

Wealthy people who are generous share a lot of their wealth with their friends. They freely offer their cabins or condos, invite guests to extravagant parties, and help those in particular need. They let their resources overflow to the people around them.

But the children in the family get an entirely different benefit. Children don’t get the spillover effects of wealth; they inherit the bulk of it. They don’t get the leaves of the tree of resources; they get the roots of it. All that the family owns belongs to the family. The kids don’t have to get close to the parents to enjoy the wealth. They are already as close as anyone can get.

That’s how God views us in His Kingdom. We may pray for some spillover effects of His wealth—a few blessings and answers to prayer here and there—but His intent is to give us the entire inheritance. Jesus is the Son of the Father, and because of that relationship He inherits everything. All of heaven and earth is His. The kingdoms of the world become the Kingdom of the Christ. He is worthy of every inch of the universe, its material realms as well as its spiritual realms. And because we are related to Him—because we have been adopted into the family through union with Jesus—we are heirs with Him.

IN DEED

It’s almost too much to absorb. There is nothing the Son is not worthy to inherit, and while we are not worthy in ourselves, we have been made worthy in Him. Whatever He gets, we get. Whatever He enjoys, we enjoy. Whatever He inherits is also ours. We can hardly imagine such a position, but it’s true. God bestows His blessings on His children not as rare gifts but as Kingdom insiders. We are the royal family.

We can access some of those resources now through prayer and faith. And we will experience much more in the fullness of the Kingdom. Let that encourage you. Let it sink in. You are not just a friend. You are in the household. It’s all yours.

ADDITIONAL READING: Galatians 4:6-7

Christ is a jewel worth more than a thousand worlds. . . . Get him and get all; miss him and miss all.

THOMAS BROOKS