Today’s Reading
“…And envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21 NIV)
“And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:37 NIV)
“For in Christ Jesus ‘we have obtained an inheritance,’ and have the earnest of it in our possession of the Spirit of God.” -Charles Spurgeon
Last summer our Bible study group went through the book The Power of God’s Names by Tony Evans. It was a phenomenal book and study, and I strongly recommend it to everyone. I had heard a few of the names of God before through scripture reading or sermons that I had listened to. Names such as Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Rapha, Immanuel and Elohim. The book went into detail about each of these names and more to guide the reader into a deeper understanding of God’s character.
Our pursuit of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is one of developing our character while also learning more about God’s character. We desire to be more Christ-like in our thoughts and heart choices, and what better way to do that than to understand Jehovah’s true character through his names. His names tell us about who he is.
The great news is that we have become fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:37). Meaning that through the work and person of Jesus we are now co-heirs to the amazing power of God through his Holy Spirit. That same power of Jehovah Rapha that promised he would protect the Israelites from the diseases that struck the Egyptians is the same one that worked healing in Jesus’ name through Peter in Acts 5 when people brought the sick into the street so at least Peter’s shadow would fall on them. That same power is in us because of Jesus! It is part of our inheritance here on earth in our time here being his hands and feet.
I don’t know about you but this gets me so fired up! Not only do we share in the promise of eternity with Christ in Heaven, we share the power of God through the Holy Spirit. As hard as it is to believe in our human brains, Jesus said in John 14:12 we who believe can continue the ministry that Jesus was doing and can do even greater things because he is going to the Father! This is mind blowing, right?! All this is possible because of what he did for us. All this is accessible because of what he desires to do through us for His Kingdom. The time is now!
Reflection
Do you pray specific names of God to Him when communing together? How does it feel to know we are co-heirs with Christ? How does that impact your current view of relationships?
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your word that reveals Your true character! Thank You that because of grace we are saved and because of grace we are made co-heirs with Christ! Thank You that we can rest in this knowledge and settle in the promise! In Jesus’ name; amen.