January 16 I Monday

Genesis 39-40

Matthew 11

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”     —Romans 8:28

What does it mean to be the Lord’s inheritance? Under the old covenant, being the Lord’s inheritance had to do with two things. Firstly, it had to do with possession, where God possessed the people of Israel. Secondly, it had to do with purpose, where God had a purpose and an agenda through them.

       In Exodus 9:16, God spoke to Moses concerning the nation of Israel when Moses was to lead them out of Egypt: “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you My power and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” In other words, “Moses, I am not bringing you out of Egypt just to give you a comfortable land in Canaan compared to the oppressive land in Egypt. Rather, I have a purpose for you, that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

       This was the reason God gave Abraham a promise about a son and from that son would come a nation and that nation would bless the world. Genesis 12:2-3 tells us, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Paul elaborates on this in the New Testament: “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his Seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds’, meaning many people, but ‘and to your Seed’, meaning one Person, who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of what God said to Abraham in the old covenant. Hence, in the new covenant, when we place our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, we become part of His body, part of His Church.

       Paul tells us, “And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:22). The idea of the Church being the body of Christ is not simply a metaphor or an illustration. There is an element of reality in this that our bodies become the place where the Spirit of Jesus Christ comes to live and we clothe His activity in the world.

       As the Lord’s inheritance, God has a purpose and an agenda for us when we come to believe in Him. May we submit to His lordship and surrender our own plans and desires for His.

Prayer: Almighty God, thank You for Your divine purpose and agenda for me. May I submit to Your lordship and surrender my own plans and desires for Yours.