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 i...

Haggai - "Finish What You Started"

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Have you ever started a project you have not finished? I myself remember a time when it took me over a year to finish a project that should only have taken a month. As people, we tend to rationalize and the people of Judah were no different. Returning home from exile, the remnant of Judah led by Zerubabbel and Joshua the priest, began the construction of the Temple—the most important structure in Israel’s religious life. However, because of opposition, the construction stopped. The people gave up and went on with their lives.

A few years later, the LORD sent Haggai to rebuke Judah. Haggai challenged Zerubabbel and Joshua the priest to finish what they started. The people however, responded with the excuse that “it was not time” (Haggai 1:2). They obeyed twenty days later (Haggai 1:15). The LORD was faithful in encouraging His people to finish the work they were called to do. Though there was an instance when the people of Judah became discouraged (Haggai 2:1-9), the people were able to finish because the LORD was with them.

How are you today? Are you like the people of Judah who though called to work had given excuses? Maybe it’s time to roll up our sleeves and start working on what we’ve begun! Let us not only be good starters but good finishers as well—for God’s glory!

 

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