A Community of Grace »

Whether mythical or real, royal kingdoms have captivated the imaginations of young and old alike. Fairy tales fuel little girls’ dreams of growing up to marry a prince. A royal title, great wealth and a kingdom are the rightful inheritance of those marrying into monarchies.

As noble and prestigious as any earthly royal inheritance may be, there are none that compare with the inheritance of God’s children. Through faith in Christ Jesus, we have become the royal children of the King of kings; we were transferred from the kingdom of darkness into God’s kingdom of light.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

Adopted into God’s family with unconditional love, we inherit the constant and intimate companionship of the King of kings. His Spirit lives in us to rule and reign in our hearts. Our inheritance is to mature as holy children under the Spirit’s tutelage, and guidance. We delight to commune with our King in the royal courts of prayer and fellowship. He teaches us to discard lie-based thinking and sinful behaviors that characterized our old identity as “commoners,” when we lived outside of God’s royal family. As we walk according to God’s truth, His kingdom is established on earth as it is in heaven through our obedience to Him.

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

Unlike earthly kings and kingdoms, there will be no end to King Jesus’ rule. Is your inheritance, the beauty of Christ’s holiness, characterizing your life as His royal child? Leave your “commoners’” customs behind. Put away your tarnished tiaras of self-glorification. Let God crown you with His shining splendor as you come, believe and receive from Jesus.

“You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”

Isaiah 62:3

Rainbows are an optical phenomenon occurring when sunlight reflects and refracts off droplets of water, breaking into different wavelengths of color. A marvel and delight to our eyes, the rainbow is also the sign of a promise God made with every living creature: “I have set My rainbow in the clouds…never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life” (Genesis 9:13,15). As surely as God has kept this promise, He is faithful to all His promises. He sent Jesus as the sign and fulfillment:

“For all God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’’” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

The apostle Paul penned these words to explain the strength and holiness with which he endured exceedingly great hardships and trials. By trusting in God’s promises, Paul learned not to rely on his own resources and strength. He found that God, through Christ, “makes both us and you stand firm” (2 Corinthians 1:21). He learned to depend on the grace of God.

God’s promises explain what we, through coming to Christ and believing Him, can receive. Like Paul, without hardships we will never experience all that’s available to us through the indwelling Spirit of Christ. How often do we fall into despair when difficulties come? Yet they are the very catalysts through which God’s greatest provision is released and His incredible promises fulfilled. Without difficult circumstances we would not fully experience God’s promise that He:

“…will meet all your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

An Irish myth says that we can find our hopes and dreams at the end of a rainbow — the proverbial pot of gold. In contrast, the promises of God, supernaturally fulfilled by the ultimate Promise Keeper, are a reality we can rely on. Consider what lies at the end of God’s promises to His children:

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

On what promise of God do you need to stand today? Come to Him. Believe Him. Then wait to receive from Him the fulfillment of all He has promised and provided for you in Christ Jesus.

The famous Charles Dickens novel “Oliver Twist” portrays the struggle between good and evil through the life of a boy named Oliver. Born illegitimately, but of genteel lineage, the innocent and orphaned boy becomes trapped in a world with few options. From a cruel workhouse to Fagin’s gang, he seems destined for prison and an early death. However, in a series of fortuitous circumstances, Oliver is eventually restored to his rightful inheritance.

We, like Oliver, have a similar story. Once separated from our true Benefactor and Creator, we were lost and without hope in a dark and sinful world. Our sins separated us from our Father. Aware of the toll that our sin-marred condition was having upon us, our heavenly Father sought us when we were far from Him. Foretelling His plans to rescue us through our Savior, Jesus Christ, God proclaimed through the prophet Isaiah:

“Comfort, Comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, her sin has been paid for” (Isaiah 40:1-3).

He goes on to say:

“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth, everyone who is called by My name, whom I created for My glory” (Isaiah 43:6-7).

We have lived as unloved orphans, trying to cope with life disconnected from our Maker. Wounded by other broken people, we have searched for significance, love and identity in the wrong places. Dominated by our selfish desires, lie-based beliefs and prideful inclinations, we have suffered the regret of living for a false purpose, our own glory.

Jesus died to rescue us from the poverty and ruin of sin and self. Hear His voice call you to come to Him. He longs to lift you from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you. Take your eyes off of yourself and fix them on Jesus. He will restore you into your rightful inheritance, experiencing His intimate love and saving power in your life for the glory of your Father’s name.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”

1 John 3:1