A Godly Heritage
“For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage
of those who fear your name”
Psalm 61:5 (ESV)
Within the Kingdom of God there are “many dwelling places”.
“In My Father’s house
are many dwelling places…”
John 14:2
The Greek word translated “dwelling places” is best expressed as “abiding place”. It is translated as such in John 14:23:
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him”
John 14:23
The Word of God is clear: the depth of my relationship with Him here determines my heavenly inheritance! Let us consider the Parable of the Sower. The determining factor of the fruitfulness of a life is not the seed being received, it is determined by the soil into which the seed falls; some 30-fold, some 60-fold, and some 100-fold. These are the various portrayals of good and honest hearts.
“But those on the good ground are the ones who, in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.”
Luke 8:15
It is the honest in heart who hear His Word, keep it, and patiently bring forth fruit. May God save us from mere professions of belief and cause us to hear His Word. Faith without the works of faith is an utter impossibility! Our salvation is secured by receiving the living Christ into our lives, it is not based on a mere confession of words. It is substantiated by the living testimony of His indwelling power.
May we contemplate the clear declaration of God’s Word:
“He that hath the Son hath life;
and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life”
1 John 5:12
The “eternal life” spoken of in the scriptures cannot be had apart from the receiving and holding of Him in the human heart. It is the heart that “believes UNTO righteousness”. It is in the reception of His person that we are translated from death unto life.
“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name,
He gave the right to become children of God”
John 1:12
True believing will culminate in a receiving of His person and His power. A life that claims to believe in Him, without the demonstration of an ever changing and transformed life, is a belief rooted in vanity.
“For you, O God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage
of those who fear your name”
Psalm 61:5 (ESV)
There is an eternal heritage to those who know and carry within their hearts the reverent fear of the Lord. Those that carry this wonder hear His Word, they understand and keep it, and bring forth fruit through the enduring grace of the Lord.
Any life that holds the person of Jesus within has one singular passion: to bear fruit unto the Glory of the Father. There are many today who are satisfied with a salvation that carries little concern for bearing fruit. There is a contentment with the forgiveness of sin while yet unaffected by the Call of God unto discipleship.
“Herein is my Father glorified,
that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples”
John 15:8
It must be noted that it is disciples who bear fruit. Fruitfulness is the result of following the Son. It is a life of identification, a life of holding His Word dear and precious. May we by the grace of God reexamine our hearts and our relationship with Him. The verse that precedes the verse above reaffirms the truth presented here.
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
John 15:7-8
A Godly Heritage
There is a correlation of our life lived out in this world and our inheritance in the world to come.
“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life”
Matthew 19:29
See related Post: Following Jesus
♥
“It is Christ who is to be exalted, not our feelings. We will know Him by obedience, not by emotions. Our love will be shown by obedience, not by how good we feel about God at a given moment. “And love means following the commands of God.” “Do you love Me?” Jesus asked Peter. “Feed My lambs.” He was not asking, “How do you feel about Me?” for love is not a feeling. He was asking for action”
– Elisabeth Elliot
Brian Troxel
Thanks Brian. Really good word. I find that my own effort to bear fruit are really fruitless, but my willingness to do what Holy Spirit leads me to do are good fruit. You teach obedience and I say amen. He says if you are a willing servant I will work through you. But I want it known that not everything that I do is not of Him. Love you brother.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” Rom. 12:2
It is by the renewing of our minds that we grow into the ability to discern what is the good, acceptable (well pleasing) and perfect will of God. These are 3 distinct realms our doing the Will of God. If we allow Him to renew our mind we will forsake the carnality of our own minds (our way of thinking) and we will continue to grow into the place of knowing and doing the perfect will of God in every situation.
The verse that precedes the one above is the offering of our hearts to Him which allows Him to move us on in the knowing and doing of His Will:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Rom. 12:1
This is the prime example of how far and to what extent the soil of our hearts responds to the life of the seed sown into it.
This great work of God in the human heart is progressive and He intends it to be a glorious testimony to His grace. whatever is not of Him must be crucified even though it may be “good” that we may progress unto the well pleasing Will of Him and that which is well pleasing will become the door into the perfect will by the same spirit of sacrifice.
Obedience is the fruit of love not human striving. Obedience is love in action.
Love you brother!
BT
Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22) ESV
To God be the glory!
That is the scripture that sums up God’s desire for us. I was thinking of that one this morning!
Blessings
BT