Preparing for Jesus – Heir Apparent – Advent, Day 11
Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
The question on my devotional reads… In what ways will you live as an heir of Christ? It is an interesting question. The Greek word for “heir” used in Titus 3:7 is kleronomos. Strongs Greek Lexicon defines this word as follows:
kleronomos klay-ron-om’-os from 2819 and the base of 3551 (in its original sense of partitioning, i.e. (reflexively) getting by apportionment); a sharer by lot, i.e. inheritor (literally or figuratively); by implication, a possessor:–heir.
According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, it is used in a context where it is defined as receiving a lot, a portion or in inheritance other than by merit. It is a significant word that plays a foundational role in our faith as believers in Christ. In and of itself, however, the word is meaningless. I can think of many people in our world today who are heirs to great fortunes and corporate dynasties. Not all of them live up to the expectations that society might place on people who are given so much wealth without earning one penny of it. So here we are approaching yet another Christmas season and I wonder if we really see ourselves as heirs. When we think of an heir to a worldly fortune we think of someone with incredible prestige, wealth and power…and when they don’t use those gifts to do good things for the world we criticize their every move. In fact, even when they do good things with their unearned power we criticize them.
As believers in Christ we have been given the gift of God’s grace with the power to pour out Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulnees and Self Control on the world. Jesus says to us in John 14:12…
John 14:12
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
1 Peter 2:9 goes on the read…
1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
The point is…Instead of being heirs to worldly fortunes that will all run out some day, we have given a portion of power and love from God himself. The real question is…Do we keep our inheritance to ourselves like heirs to worldly fortunes do…or do we share our inheritance with the world?
I think we all know what we should do…Heck even people who don’t believe in God know what we should do, but, in reality, how are we really spending our inheritance from God this Christmas?
