Reading of the Will
Reading of the Will
Words of Faith 1-8-2020
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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1 Peter 1
[3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade‑‑kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
There is a scene from many old movies that comes to mind when we think about inheritance. It is the classic "reading of the will" scene. There is even an opera by Puccini that centers around the familiar scene where family members gather to hear an attorney read the last will and testament of a wealthy relative.
Perhaps there is something in humans that makes us eager to gain something we did not work for but that we are entitled to because of birth. Who will get the house? The land? The estate? The treasure? It's interesting how humans will clamor for accumulated things that will never make them happy, even when it could not be more obvious (at the demise of a family member) that such things do not last in our lives.
The truth is that most of the things that we might "inherit" in this life are in the process of decay, just as our mortal bodies are decaying. Houses, cars, estates, even treasures, and deposits all fade. The most meticulous efforts will not stop the inevitable process. It all will perish, spoil, and fade away. There is nothing we can inherit in this physical world that will last beyond a lifetime or even for a few decades. Even the best human qualities are never "inherited"‑‑ a strong work ethic or good moral character. These things are developed carefully over time. They don't come automatically.
But there are some things we can inherit that last. They come as a birthright when we are born of God‑‑ a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This is an inheritance we cannot earn or work for.
God, our Father, has simply written us into His will. His estate is quite different from those in the movies. His Testament reads that we have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. It is kept safe in the vault of heaven for you, and by faith, even YOU are shielded by God's power. Now that is quite a family reading!
If you know Jesus, rejoice today. You are a wealthy person by inheritance! If you don't know Jesus, no matter what riches your earthly life or family affords, you are impoverished. Even the riches of royalty and the titles of nobility are perishing, spoiling, fading. Why not get to know Jesus today and let Him write you into His Father's will?
Lord Jesus, I need you. I confess to You that I am separated from God by sin. Come into my life and forgive my sin. Write my name into your Father's will and testament. I rejoice in the inheritance You have made possible for me. In Your Name, I pray.
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, and our website, and our church app, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.
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