How do you become an excellent receiver of God’s grace? You have to stop basing your worthiness to receive on what you do or don’t do. Instead, you must base it on what Jesus has done.
Instead of asking what we are worthy to receive, we should ask, what is Jesus worthy to receive? The Bible says He received an inheritance that is full of riches in glory. He was given a name that is above every name. (Philippians 2:9-10) He was given a throne at the right hand of God. (Hebrews 1:8, 13) God made Him to be head over all things. (Ephesians 1:22) God declared that in Him all fullness dwells bodily. (Colossians 1:19-20) He is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing. (Rev. 5:12) In other words, because of His obedience, Jesus is worthy to receive EVERYTHING that God has.
Are you ready for this? The Bible says we are joint heirs or co-heirs with Him. (Romans 8:17; Ephesians 1:11) Again, this has nothing to do with what we do – except for the fact that we have believed on the Son. Everything else required for us to qualify for this inheritance depends on what He has done. And He perfectly fulfilled the plan of God for our redemption. (Philippians 2:8)
In fact, God not only gave us the same inheritance that He gave His Son, He also has equipped us or made us able to take part in this inheritance. (Colossians 1:12) God has not left anything out of this marvelous plan for us to be restored to our rightful possessions.
Dare we leave healing of our physical bodies out of this inheritance? Our redemption includes everything that was lost in the fall of man – spirit, soul and body. Paul prayed that God would open believers’ spiritual eyes so that they might know what is the riches of the glory of our inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe… (Ephesians 1:18)
God’s great power is toward us when we work for it? No, when we believe! If we only allow God to bless us when we do everything perfectly or perform acceptably (according to our estimation), there will be very little that God can do for us. But if we throw open wide the doors of our heart to receive everything obtained for us by the Son, we will enjoy the tremendous riches of God’s inheritance for us in Christ Jesus.
Confession: I receive God’s blessings based on what Jesus has done for me in redemption, not on the basis of my own works. I am a joint heir of Jesus Christ’s inheritance.
Scriptures for meditation: Ephesians 1:11-19; Colossians 1:12, 19-20; Philippians 2:8-10
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Copyright © 2007 by David Hagni. All rights reserved.