07/05/2018
Is your life the manifestation of God’s glory? Are you more than mere flesh and blood, such that you not only say and do good things, but are also living and breathing praise to Him? We hear the expression “People should see Christ in you.”, but do they, and to what end is this most important? I ask again... are you the embodiment of praise such that others who see you experience God’s glory?
“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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:11-12 ESV
When we read this particular verse the natural inclination is to dwell on the concept of predestination, but as tempting as that might be to us, because we desire so strongly to control our own destiny, this isn’t the heart of today’s verse... the heart is the idea of being “the praise of his glory.”
As we read on we find this idea being stressed by repetition. Through our faith in Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit within us, we become new creations, and as such are guaranteed our inheritance with Jesus, and here it is once more... the reiteration of the purpose we previously read in verse 12; so that we will be “the praise of his glory.” Listen to the complete thought:
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV
So are we striving to live out this will that God has for us, this realization of God’s purpose in our lives? When people see us do they sense the glory of God Himself? Are we walking, talking, and breathing images of His glory that will cause others to praise Him? Well, that should be our great desire, but it is also an inheritance, and is yet to be fully given us. This is something that we work at, and towards, every moment of every day, but that won’t reach crescendo until we come into full possession of it.
Children don’t just receive the inheritance of their parents by being born, they must honor their mother and father, and also obey them. However, the guarantee of inheritance is not hinged upon their service and obedience alone, but upon the love by which they do so... the love that is at the heart of their ability to honor. We don’t reflect Jesus in our lives without that love, and we can’t honor Him, and His teaching, by simply attempting to act out His lessons.
Kings pass their crown to a child as a matter of birthright, but why do they do this? It is so that their kingdom can be kept intact... so that their memory will live on after their death... it is an offshoot of pride and conceit, and more about their own self-image and other selfish things. Certainly they love their children, but literature is chocked full of accounts in which ungrateful and unloving children received an inheritance despite the dishonor they showed their royal parent. The Bible is a running list of good kings who are followed by bad kings... fathers choosing simply by birthright... children acting without love nor honor.
So what is different in God’s inheritance that we don’t see in the kings? Well first and foremost His children will receive their inheritance even though He will not give up the throne. Our God lives eternally. Second, it isn’t predicated on birthright, but upon love, honor, and obedience. We don’t receive our inheritance regardless of our love and behavior for Him. And thirdly, He doesn’t bestow it until we have shown that we want it, and can be good princes and princesses. In other words, until we act as He acts, and become “the praise of his glory.”
We are taught by God’s example that there are certain things we do for our children... we love them, we provide for them, and we teach them to be good men and women, but there are also things we don’t do... we don’t accept bad behavior, dishonor, a lack of love, or sinful behavior due to their rejection of faith. Our blessings, and our inheritance should be given to them just as God’s is to us... not without condition, but as a result of love, honor, and obedience. In this way our children become to us what we are striving to become to God... images of Him, and the embodiment of praise to His glory.
There is an old saying “The Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” and in many cases that is true; our children look like us and act like us, but not always. Sometimes the apple falls into a wayward stream that carries it far away. We can be like this in our faith. We can hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and yet have it fall on a hardened heart. We can take all of the hope and promises contained within us, and allow it to float away.
So I ask you today... do you love, honor, and obey your Heavenly Father? Do you strive to be like Him, and to become living and breathing praise to Him? Are you preparing yourself to receive His inheritance, the gift that He longs to bestow upon you?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for allowing me to love you with all my heart, and for holding out to me your inheritance. I thank you for leading me in your ways, and teaching me to honor and obey you. Strengthen me Holy Father that I can resist the temptation of dwelling on my own self-interests at the expense of yours. Help me to love you despite my earthly wants, and to withstand those enticements that place me in denial of your will for me. Forever let my response be to you... “I love you Father”, and “Your will, not mine, be done.” You hold out your grace to me, help me to take it from your loving hand, and to cherish it until that day when the great gift of your inheritance reaches its fullness in me. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, and the Father who receives my love forever. Praised be your glory in me, now and forever more.
Rich Forbes