God has made us as heirs, children of God, in the image of Jesus Christ.
1) Our Original Form is worth Jesus Christ
| The character ‘義’ in Chinese consists of ‘羊’ (sheep) beneath ‘我’ (me). It can be interpreted to mean ‘I become righteous under the sheep,’ implying that anyone becomes righteous only through the Lamb, Jesus Christ. At the time when I couldn’t accept myself and struggled, God redeemed me through the life of His Son. Before God, we are of the same ‘value as Jesus’ (equally valuable as Jesus, having the worth of Jesus). The love of the Father, who loved us to the extent of giving His Son, and the obedience of the Son, Jesus, who loved to the point of giving His life out of love for the Father, overflows to us in Christ. This is our restored Original Form paid for by the precious Lamb, Jesus Christ. Let us cease our efforts to become ‘great Christians’ on our own and instead, look to the ‘Christ who became a Lamb’ and fully enjoy His grace. |
》Scripture Prayer
(Ephesians 1:3-13) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 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. 13 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,
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. We are ‘Jesus-like’ individuals who have obtained salvation at the cost of the life of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Let us praise and give thanks for this grace of salvation. Let us confess that, forever, within the wonder of this grace, we will praise God, love Him with all our hearts, and serve Him.
And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— (Philippians 3:9)
2. God affirmed His ‘love’ for us by sacrificing Jesus Christ on the cross. Let us pray that, having received God’s love, I and our church do not live for my own satisfaction and benefit but make loving God the sole purpose. Let us pray that every Christian lives a life worth Jesus, living and dying worthy of the price paid, to glorify the Gospel.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
2) Our Original Form was made to Inherit the Kingdom of God
| In the Middle Eastern culture, husbands are allowed to have multiple wives. The first king of Saudi Arabia had 80 children with 17 wives. Their children went on to having multiple wives and children. Currently, it is estimated that in Saudi Arabia there are around 6,000 princes. With so many princes, simply being a prince does not guarantee a definite inheritance. The highest position they can attain is becoming the heir to the throne, who will succeed the king. God has granted us the authority of this heir in Christ. He has chosen us not just to be one of His many sons but to be an heir of his inheritance. The heir who will inherit the Father’s inheritance shares the same destiny with the Father, in glory and in suffering! |
》Scripture Prayer
(Genesis 15:3-5) And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
(Romans 8:12-18) So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. ‘Eliezer’, planned as the best choice by humans, could not become an heir. It was through God’s promise that ‘Isaac’ would become the heir. Through Christ, we have received the Spirit of the Son, and we have become God’s children and heirs. It was not by our own efforts but by God’s grace that this became possible. Let us resolve to live a life of faith in the position of an heir seeking the nations.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. (Psalm 2:8)
2. As those who have received the inheritance of the kingdom of God in Christ, let us declare that the revival of the kingdom of God and the completion of missions are not a choice but our destiny. May all churches firmly receive this glorious inheritance through faith in the Word of God, and may they be blessed to rise up, not fearing the privilege of suffering but embracing the glory of the cross.
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1Peter 4:13)
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