Knowing God, Knowing His Inheritance – Part 2

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Ephesians 1:17-19

In yesterday's reflection, I began considering Paul's prayer that we might know "the riches of [God's] glorious inheritance in his holy people." I explained that the Greek original of verse 18 could be pointing to the amazing blessings that will one day be ours when we are with the Lord.

But the actual language of verse 18 points to another interpretation, one that seems, at first, to be less wonderful than what we expected, but turns out to be even more glorious after all. The Greek phrase under consideration reads very literally, "[that you may know] what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the holy ones" (1:18). Now, "his inheritance" could mean, "the inheritance we will receive from God." But the more natural interpretation of the language would be "the inheritance he will receive." And what is this inheritance? Us! You and I and all of God's people are his inheritance. What we learned in verse 11 about being God's inheritance is reiterated in verse 18. Paul prays that we know God, and, in particular, that we know we are God's own inheritance.

At first, we might feel a bit deprived. You mean I shouldn't know about the inheritance I will receive? Isn't my inheritance glorious? Yes, it is. And, yes, you will receive it. Don't panic. But Ephesians 1:18, like verse 11, points to the fact that you and I are part of God's inheritance. Of course, in a very real sense we already belong to God. But, when we finally stand in his presence, we will be fully his people. God will claim us as completely his own, in the presence of his holy angels.

Far from depriving us of hope, Paul's prayer opens up a new perspective on our hope. Not only will we receive abundantly when we are with the Lord, but also we will belong to him in a whole new way. Moreover, God thinks of us as part of his glorious inheritance. What a wonder! As F. F. Bruce writes in his commentary on Ephesians 1:18, "That God should set such high value on a community of sinners, rescued from perdition and still bearing too many traces of their former state, might well seem incredible were it not made clear that he sees them in Christ, as from the beginning he chose them in Christ."

Because you are in Christ, God sees you as you will be in glory and is eager to receive you and your fellow believers as his glorious inheritance. How amazing! No wonder Paul prays that we might know this as we come to know God better.

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION: Have you ever thought of yourself as part of God's glorious inheritance? How might seeing yourself in this way change your life?

PRAYER: Gracious God, what an amazing thought! Not only will I one day inherit incomparable blessings, but also you will inherit your glorious people, including me. This isn't some cheap self-help trick, some gimmick to make me feel better about myself. Rather, it is part of the truth about who you are and who I am in you.

Help me, Lord, to see myself today as part of your glorious inheritance. May this vision guide and empower me to live for you in every segment of my life. Amen.