“You are an heir with Christ of God’s Estate. He has placed his Spirit in your heart as a downpayment. What God said to Joshua, he says to you: “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given you.’ But first you must possess it. You must deliberately receive what God so graciously gives.”- Max Lucado, Glory Days
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”- John 10:10 (ESV)
Susie Larson concludes Chapter 6 of Closer Than Your Next Breath with a caution not to treat Jesus as a means to an end. Instead, we need to treat Jesus as the Beginning and the End. Otherwise, our motives go awry. Because Jesus isn’t a blessing machine. Rather, He’s the King of kings. Hence, we serve His purposes — not the other way around.
In addition, Susie observes, since we’re all a pile of contradictions, Jesus uses our journey to shape us. Most significantly, Jesus knew full well who He was saving when He died on the cross. Therefore, Hebrews 12:2 (ESV) states:
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God.”
In conclusion, Susie posits, to the degree that God’s truth displaces the lies within us, we possess increasing freedom and fullness. Consequently, varying levels of freedom, health, and wholeness exist that we still can take hold of. Above all, we must believe it in order to contend for it.
Thus, Susie exhorts:
“We must acknowledge and prioritize the places within us that most need the miracle work of our Savior. The unhealed areas of our lives cause us to misinterpret our trials, misunderstand God’s voice, and miss all the ways He’s showing up in our lives. . . . In God’s presence . . . our story starts to make sense.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses describe Christians as an heir with Christ to God’s Estate? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Fierce in your defense”