Romans 8:12-17
12 So then, brothers and
sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13
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. 14 For all who are led by
the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of
slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption.
When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our
spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of
God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may
also be glorified with him.
Reflection:
Does your family have money, possessions,
or land that will be passed from generation to generation? Have you ever thought about who would
inherit your “stuff” when you die?
Preparing a Last Will and Testament is a challenging activity. It requires us to think about things we
don’t want to think about. Who
will get what? Will it be
fair? The process of putting
together a Will also reminds us that our “stuff” is only temporary. We can collect a whole household full
of furniture and collectibles, but all of it will be given away or sold when we
die. Coffins can only carry so
much.
The verses in Romans, Chapter
8, remind us that we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ. Inheritance is a theme that stretches
all the way from Genesis to Revelation.
The word “inheritance” or forms of the word can be found in the Bible
over 300 times and that tells us this is an important message from God. As children of God, then heirs, we are
promised to inherit a kingdom.
According to the passages in 1 Peter 1:3-6, the kingdom we inherit can
never perish, spoil, or fade and it’s being kept in heaven for us. So doesn’t it make sense to invest more
in God than in earthly pursuits?
What if the greatest treasure our family possessed was our faith in
God? Think of how much easier that
would be to pass along. It can be
divided over and over and it never ends.
Reflection Questions:
Morning: As you look forward to this day, think about ways that you
make money and things that you buy with that money. In what ways do you need God’s guidance in setting financial
priorities?
Noon: Do you have a
Will? Was it difficult for you to
prepare? If you don’t have a Will,
why not?
Evening :
Before you sleep tonight, rest in the comfort that you are a Child of
God and God is in control. What are
some things that you might “give up to God” tonight?
Prayer: God of eternity, thank you for claiming
me as your child. Lord, help me to
focus more on my relationship with You and less on earthly possessions. Forgive me when I have let money and
stuff get in the way of my true inheritance with You. Spirit of God, help our family to focus on you together and
to rejoice in sharing You from generation to generation. Amen.
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