Trick-or-Treat
Growing up one of the best parts of trick-or-treating was coming home and dumping out our pillow cases of candy. Yes, we did not have plastic pumpkins, we used pillow cases! We would go around with our cheap or homemade costumes on and collect candy from our neighbors. I never knew why we said “trick or treat” because they all gave us treats and we did not have to do a trick or anything else. My parents did expect me to say, “thank you!”
God, also, has treats for us - not things that are bad for us but a real treat! A free gift and we do not have to do anything! The King of Kings is giving us our royal inheritance, as His children! Now, if an attorney called you that your rich aunt had an inheritance for you, you would get excited. I would too but that is temporary! Often inheritances are bittersweet because you have a great loss that comes with a great gain. This is way more than money and is for all eternity! If your parents were billionaires, you would be considered foolish, in this world, not to accept your inheritance. There are many people living life and ignoring the greatest inheritance of all!
Acts 20: 32, “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become a child of God and we inherit family privileges. He offers us an inheritance more satisfying and fulfilling than anything we can imagine. Even that billionaire's inheritance will pass away, but in Christ, we have an inheritance that will never perish! It is not just for this lifetime but for eternity!
Proverbs 13: 22, “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” I think it is wonderful to save and have something to leave for your children but I do not think money is the most important thing. The most valuable inheritance we can give our children is having a relationship with Jesus Christ. If they learn the value of that then they have the gift that keeps on giving. They will hand it down for generations to come. Show them your love for the Lord, how you love your neighbor in Jesus’ name, let them see you share the Good News of God’s love, and show them that, by grace, you have the blessings of eternal life in God’s Kingdom.
Lawyers are often needed to ensure that a large inheritance is divided as stated in the will. Sometimes things are not divided evenly. In the Bible, inheritance is a great example of a good gift: it’s free, given by grace— not earned—a windfall received from God, who loves us ALL. We ALL have the same inheritance to accept! God shows his goodness by giving an inheritance to us, His children. The psalmist tells us in Psalm 37: 9, “For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.” This refers to the whole earth in the new heaven and new earth.
Jesus said in Matthew 5: 5, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.“
And we should say thank you! We have so much to be grateful for! Are we showing God our gratefulness in how we live our life? In how we worship Him? In how we serve Him? In how we serve others? In how we give back to Him?
Colossians 1: 12, “...and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” David showed his thankfulness in Psalm 73: 25-26, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Let’s set our sights on our eternal inheritance from God! What a heavenly treasure we have in Christ! All by grace, through faith!