Jesus: The Believer’s Inheritance

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  It is fascinating to observe when people talk about inheritance, ones mind would immediately cater properties, wills, houses, jewelries, and other material things. All of which are centered on material temporal things.   In 1 Peter 1:4 , although The Apostle Peter used the term “inheritance” once in his letter, Apostle Paul on the other hand, mentioned this term in his letters several times. ( Eph_1:14 , Eph_1:18 , Eph_5:5 , Col_3:24 ,) But what is so significant about this particular emphasis of Peter? After all, he made a brief description of the inheritance (verse 4-5) a believer will obtain now that he is part of God’s family.   The term “inheritance” is not something new among Jewish ears. Going back to the OT, when God divided the promised land among the 12 tribes of Israel, every tribe received a portion of the land as their inheritance, except for the tribe of Levi…”the priestly tribe”. They were the only tribe that didn’t get one. God’s reason for doing so is interesting. Th

What is Your Goal for 2012

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Out of 3 New Year Resolutions from which to choose, a Yahoo survey indicated that 45% and 35% of those surveyed chose “losing weight” and “getting out of debt,” respectively, as their top priority. Surprisingly, only 20% chose “spending time with the family” as their number one resolution.

Yahoo’s survey reflects a disturbing reality–our society today gives more importance to physical appearance and material wealth than human relationships. How heartbreaking–especially when we consider how today’s society has neglected the most important relationship of all–our relationship with God.

The Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Philippian believers gave warning against the Judaizers who prided themselves in the Law, teaching that a person is saved by the works of the Law. These Judaizers valued outward rituals and deemed their personal efforts as the means to gaining favor with God. In answer to such false teaching, the Apostle Paul makes clear that if there were an individual who had every right to be boastful in terms of accomplishments, it would be himself (Philippians 3:4-6). However, the Apostle Paul explains, “whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8). Clearly, the Apostle Paul’s pursuit in life was no longer self-centered but Christ-centered. The Apostle Paul was consumed by the goal to grow deeper in his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:10).

How about you? What is your goal this year 2012? Is it centered on Christ? Remember: nothing in this world can compare to the surpassing riches of knowing Christ. Let us pursue to know him more deeply each day.

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