Claim your inheritance..

This morning’s reading is Ephesians 1-2. As I read Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesus church, I noticed the theme of the letter is to unify the body of Christ and to break down the barriers. After the death of Christ and his glorious resurrection, the early church was at a divide. Those who were born Jews felt that the inheritance was only for Israel and that none of the gentiles could acquire this inheritance especially if they didn’t agree to circumcise themselves.

As I read this, I realized how much importance they gave to the law. The law meant everything to them and they judged others by whether or not they were living by the law. Despite their verbal acceptance of the message of salvation, they did not fully grasp that God sent Jesus to fulfill the law. They didn’t realize that these daily sacrifices, ceremonial laws and etc, were no longer needed. They couldn’t grasp that they now had a new covenant.

Even today, there are debates in the church on matters that have been abolished on that rugged cross. Unfortunately, many of us profess Christ with our lips, but we still opt to hold onto our old traditions. Christ came so that we would be restored to our heavenly Father. He came so that you and I would be able to share in the inheritance. Christ has torn down the barriers that divided us from the chosen people of God. We now can share in this same inheritance. We have been adopted into the family. We are now free to partake in the blessings of Abraham.

Because of these truths, we should not live our lives as though Christ never died. We should not live as though he wasn’t enough of a sacrifice. When we hold onto the traditions of old, we are declaring that Christ was not enough. On the contrary, he was the perfect sacrifice slain and accepted by Father and is now seated at the right hand of God. What you eat will not atone for your sins nor will what day you choose to worship. The humiliation, and suffering that Jesus endured on the cross was so that you and I would come to inherit the Kingdom. Christ paid the ultimate price and nothing you do can replace his sacrifice.

It is grace that has given us salvation and it was his love that kept him on the cross when he could have come down. Let us not disregard his sacrifice by choosing to live as though we were not bought with a hefty price. He loved us enough to die. Let’s love him enough to live.

Memory Text:

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)— Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ – Ephesians 2:11-13 (NIV)

Prayer Prompt:
Lord, thank you for giving me a chance to share in the blessings of Abraham. Thank you for reminding me that you paid the price on Calvary. Thank you for saving me from living a life of rituals and sacrifices. Help me to live the life you died for me to have and teach me to always seek your perfect will and not the will of man…

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