Our Inheritance

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines inheritance:
• as the act of inheriting property
• the reception of genetic qualities by transmission from parent to offspring
• the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations
• something that is or may be inherited; a valuable possession that is a common heritage from nature

Considering this definition of inheritance – has anyone inherited anything from family or friends? If so, was it something valuable, useful or unusual? Were family or friends treated equally or were there differences in what people received?

The proportion (measurement) of our spiritual inheritance may differ individually. We read in Ephesians 4:5-7 a measure of God’s grace is given to each member though we are one body. The word measure means in the original, the “basis for determining what is enough (or not enough), what is fair (or not fair).” God has given each a measure of grace to be spent for His kingdom to the glory of God and for the souls of men. Unlike the prodigal, we don’t want to take lightly the resources He has bestowed on us as sons and daughters. Remember, we have been brought with the precious blood of Jesus.

We read Israel’s inheritance differ among the tribes in Numbers 26:54 when the Lord said to Moses, “To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed.”

What problems might exist after you received an inheritance?

Jesus warns not store up treasure on earth where moth, rust or thieves can break in and steal (Matthew 6:19). An inheritance can be depleted for any number of reasons. However, in Christ there is no end or depletion to the riches of His inheritance as Isaiah 64:4 describes, “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.”

With our inheritance in Christ, we receive a new position. In Romans 8:16-17 we are called heirs and co-heirs. Not only are we an heir who generally is the first in line of succession, but we are also co-heirs. This means we share in the inheritance of the heavenly Father with (or through) the chief heir, Jesus Christ. Jesus is called the Firstborn (Colossians 1:15). The firstborn son generally receives a double (Deuteronomy 21:17).