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The Challenge of Discipleship

April 2, 2011 by Church Without Shoes

Pastor Jim Shields
Sanctuary Ministries

Romans 8:17 And since we are his children, we will share his treasures–for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering..

We are the children of God…and if children, then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…

I don’t know how many have participated in the dispensation of property and possessions after the death of a loved one.  It is always a complicated endeavor involving the parsing out of money and things, trying to abide by the wishes of the deceased – wishes that have been written, clearly stated, or merely implied.  Wishes mentioned to one person at one time and to another at another time, but with a completely different intent – usually ending up with feelings hurt and relationships severed.

Our Father from heaven proceeds with a revolutionary act in the matter of His probate. How about sharing everything? How about holding all He has given us jointly?

Here’s that picture I get. Death has come (in Jesus) and the inheritance is available. We are called to the probate reading (contained in the scriptures). Some of us come grieving the death not ready to receive the gifts, some celebrating the promise of what is to come, some ready to claim their portion as theirs alone, some refusing any portion of His Glory (as it seems above their station), some ridiculing the gift of His suffering as an unacceptable inheritance, and some are so embarrassed by their behavior they refuse to be included at all.

It is a messy table only compounded by the fact that the inheritance of the Father is given to us jointly not individually. The wording means we, Jesus and us, hold everything in common. There are no pieces given and carried away from one another. This is a mystery too large for a momentary devotion.  But, let us ponder the thought:  We are bound together – you, me, Jesus in His Glory and His suffering.  We move in unity of thought and purpose.  We move in love.  We receive our inheritance – together or not all.

Prayer: May the King give us harmony for the common good.  Amen

 

 

 

Filed Under: 2011

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Comments

  1. Betty says

    April 2, 2011 at 9:38 am

    My goodness. This really shoots down self centeredness! Yes, He loves me but He loves my brothers and sisters in Christ just as much and if I am to be happy and rewarded I must love them too.

  2. terry says

    April 2, 2011 at 9:40 am

    Love it, thanks Jim! We love to enter into the blessings but not always the suffering, yet they are inseperable in His Kingodm! May we live in balance with both as we endeavor to keep an build the unity as we share in the blesse inheritance that is clearly stated and given to us all!

  3. Lynn says

    April 2, 2011 at 10:14 am

    Thanks so much Jim for continually making Christ’s plan of Unity and Love so tangible! You do that so well with your life and insight.
    This was a great ‘velvet spanking’ as we like to call it! 😉
    A perfect reminder to leave ‘myself’ behind, and move in unity of thought and purpose! I LOVE THAT! 🙂

  4. Eric says

    April 2, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    Thank you Jim. The repair job, the healing, is as great as our Lord is beautiful and boundless.

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