All of the Bible is important for me . . .

Far too many Christians dismiss the Old Testament because they think it is about ancient Israel and has no application for the modern world or the church. However, this is not the way it was understood by the writers of the New Testament. Paul was an Israelite and the OT was the only Scripture he had at the time he wrote letters to the churches (which later became the NT). In one of those, He said this of our relationship to God . . .

“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.” (Romans 9:1–8)

This and other passages proclaim that Christians are the children of God in the same way as His OT people; by faith like the faith of Abraham, all are saved. What does that mean in a practical sense? It means that the promises made to the OT believers are also promises that I can believe in for myself and claim as the Word of God to me.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9–10)

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:29)

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, because I belong to You (by grace I am saved through faith), then I am a child of Abraham, an heir of all the promises made to him and to all Your OT people. This is mercy, yet it is also marvelous and grand. I’ve known this truth for a long time, yet am overwhelmed at times by the width and breadth of it. Even the size of the OT alone is indication of all that You offer to me because I am a child of Abraham, a child of God. Thank You for including me in the most blessed family on earth, Your family. Thank You also for teaching me why I should read and enjoy all of the Scriptures, not just part of what You say and promise to me.

Wisdom for the asking

That bumper sticker, “I am spending my children’s inheritance,” is about only part of it. While we can give our kids money and stuff, we also give them much of who we are. My parents left money and land, but they also gave us a work ethic and other values.

The Bible says, “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand” (John 3:35). This includes far more than the world and all its stuff. Jesus is the image of God so we can see the One who is Spirit and invisible, but He also has the attributes of His Father. Here then is an ocean where we could dive forever and never reach the bottom!

Consider one part of God’s gift to His Son — wisdom. Colossians 2:2–3 speaks of Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 puts it this way, “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

Yet this wisdom goes farther. It is from the Father the Son, but also from the Son to those who are His. Think of this — His gift of wisdom is also ours…

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

If I have the wisdom of God, why then can I be so dumb, stupid, and foolish, making decisions without thinking and tripping over myself continually? Today’s devotional says I am a poor feeble soul who can do nothing. This is so true, yet God offers me His wisdom. Instead of making decisions apart from Him, He also offers to work in me so that I want things His way, and am able also to do things His way. I cannot obey God in my own strength. I must come to Christ in the power of Christ, which is also the power of God.

To do this, a person must admit their need and receive Christ who has everything, even all the holiness of God. We were made in God’s image but this was lost because of sin. My behavior proves that I am not what God intended. However, Christ has all the fullness of God. In Him, I can be person God intends.

This means that I have to take all matters to Him instead of acting apart from what He says or directs. Faith says that the wisdom of God can be trusted. The Bible affirms it. I need to let go of my pride and self-effort and simply ask for it.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5–6)

I’ve been bugged for weeks with a particular issue. I know what to do, but have no idea where to start or even how to do it, but instead of asking for wisdom, I’ve been trying to figure it out by myself. How typical of me, and how typical of God to give me a shake and show me where I’m in error and what to do about it.

The Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. (Proverbs 2:6–10)

Two sides to an inheritance

In real life as well as the movies, some people do have rich uncles who die and leave large inheritances. People who struggle with money and many who don’t would be overjoyed if someone knocked on their door and told them that a long lost uncle left them a fortune.

The thing about inheritances is that they carry responsibility with them. Imagine being the heir of a castle or large estate. At first there is jubilation, but reality eventually sinks in; someone has to clean all 54 toilets and mow those six acres of grass. Even a windfall of cash can be a horror in disguise. Those who have trouble handling the little money they have discover the same problems with the responsibility of much larger amounts.

As a child of God, when Christ died, I was given an inheritance; I have His eternal life. He also put much more into His last will and testament. 1 Peter 1:3-4 says, “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

I am an heir to all the promises of God, which is responsibility enough, but these verses also say that He has given me everything I need to live a godly life. I’m responsible for handling that inheritance with grace and wisdom, using it to glorify God. Trying to be godly, even with God’s help, is not a walk in the park.

But there is more. 1 Corinthians 3:21-22 says, “For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours.”

I am an heir of all things, so when God tells me that I can call on Him for everything I need, this is another way of saying that He has put the resources of all creation at my disposal. Of course He will withhold something if I’m going to be foolish or selfish with it, but I have no needs that God has not already promised to take care of—because everything is mine. Like a small child in a candy store, I’ve no idea how to handle that.

I read Romans 8:16-17 this morning and realized how I linger over the first part and largely ignore the second part. It says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

I love the fact that the Holy Spirit continually assures me of my relationship with God and of my inheritance. However, I don’t like to think about this other reality: whatever I inherit, it fits with what belongs to Jesus, and Jesus was given the whole human experience, not just the “good” stuff. He felt every temptation, went through every struggle that every human being experiences. He was misunderstood, ridiculed, abandoned by His friends, abused beyond belief. And then He died, not an ordinary old-age, sick-in-bed death, but by inhumane and cruel torture. This also is my inheritance.

By His grace, I may not experience all that He did, but the Bible is clear that I will suffer with Him in some ways. This is part of what it means to follow Him and to be a child of God.

Sometimes when I hear people say that Christianity is a crutch or Christians are weak and hiding from the world, I want to sit them down and tell them what it was like for Jesus to be tortured on a cross, but I know they would not see the relevance. Would it be different if they knew how some of His people suffer with Him? Or would they say that is no inheritance—we just brought it on ourselves?

Following Jesus is a joy and delight, but it is also a sorrow and difficult. I cannot read only the good parts of His Word and leave out those that are difficult and that seriously challenge my comfort zone. When Jesus gave Himself to me, I got all of who He is and what He experienced. This is my inheritance.