Morning By Morning #135

…co-heirs with Christ.

Romans 8:17

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

The limitless realms of His Father’s universe are Christ’s by legal right. As “heir of all things” (Heb. 1:2), He is the sole owner of God’s vast creation, but has allowed us to claim it in its entirety as our own as well, by virtue of the “co-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17) deed of ownership the Lord has signed for His chosen people. Through the work of our blessed Lord, the golden streets of paradise, the pearly gates, the river of life, the incomparable happiness, and the unspeakable glory have been made our everlasting possessions. Everything that is His He shares with His people.

Christ has placed a royal crown upon the head of His church, appointing her “to be a kingdom” (Rev. 1:6) and calling her sons “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). He uncrowned Himself so we may have a coronation of glory, and would not sit upon His own throne until He had secured a place on it for all who overcome by His blood. (See Rev. 3:21.)

When the head is crowned, the entire body shares the honor. It is the reward of every Christian conqueror! Christ’s throne, crown, scepter, palace, treasure, robes, and heritage are all yours and are far superior to jealousy, selfishness, and greed, which share no benefit to those who participate in them. Christ does not consider His happiness complete until it is shared by His people. “I have given them the glory that you gave me” (John 17:22). “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).

The smiles of His Father are all the sweeter to Him because His people share them. The honors of His kingdom are more pleasing to Him because His people “appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:4). His conquests are more valuable to Him since they have taught His people to overcome.

Christ delights in His throne because there is a place for His people on it. He rejoices in His royal robes because they cover them as well. And He delights all the more in His joy because He calls His people to “enter into the joy of your master” (Matt. 25:21 NASB).

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

What an unselfish Lord we have! He deserves all He has inherited—we don’t. So it seems even more amazing that He has more joy because we share in that joy. Yet isn’t this indicative of His true nature, character, and attributes?

The Lord God is eternal, infinite, infallible, immutable, sovereign, holy, just, patient, loving, merciful, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, just to name a few of His attributes. Even more, He is personal! And the fact He is a personal God means we can refer to Him as He, not It. He is not simply a power or force behind nature but a person. Thus, as a person He thinks and wills and acts, although He always does so “according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

In light of who God is, and in light of His limitlessness, isn’t it all the more miraculous He has purposed to have a relationship with us!

Dear eternal and sovereign Lord, thank You for the cross. Thank You that through it I may share life in Your Son, who gave His all for me. Thank You that You are a personal God who desires a personal relationship with Your people—even me!