Because He Loves Me: Discussion #5
Submitted by Marcia on December 5, 2011 – 3:13 pm2 Comments
This post covers chapter 5.
Before you read the chapter…
- How much do you habitually think of the word “inheritance”? Personally, for me the word is most immediately associated with plot devices in works of fiction. The dire circumstances of beloved heroines are often relieved by an inheritance. Or, alternately, the inheritance (or deprivation thereof) is the subject of striving, strife, conflict, or character revelation. How about you? With what do you most closely associate this word?
- Take up your pen, and write into your journal what you believe to be the essence of your inheritance from God as a Christian. Of what, specifically, is it comprised?
After (or while) reading…
- As this chapter opens, Elyse aptly quotes Bunyan’s beloved Pilgrim’s Progress, detailing the scene where Christian and Hopeful are trapped in Doubting Castle, and being tormented by the giant, Despair. In reading about the lies that Despair hurls at Christian, which ones most tugged at your heart, and why? Put another way, what lies of the Enemy do you most readily believe? Why are those lies so powerful? List as many as you need to in your journal in order to answer this question.
- Elyse ends her recounting of Christian’s story with the reminder that promises of God are precious keys that release us from the prison of doubt, and the lies of our Enemy. Next to each of your listed doubt generators above, can you find/write a Scriptural promise that would give the lie back to the Devil? (If not, why not use the “comment” link above to ask some of us to help you find one?)
- The idea of our union with Christ that Elyse is talking about in the middle of page 80 is elusive to many of us.
- PERSONAL SHARING TIME: I know that, for me, I’ve only recently gotten it through my thick head that my life is hid with Christ, and that all of His unsearchable riches are mine, too. This concept of UNION with Him is the basis for the discussion of our Christian inheritance in this chapter. Unless you “get it” that you are united with Christ, this chapter may not mean a whole lot to you. Let me offer you a picture that you might be able to grasp (with God’s help) as I recently did.
- The discussion is about union with our bridegroom Jesus, the King. S0, think of a marriage union. Imagine yourself, young and a “normal nobody” marrying a multi-billionaire.
- His bank account becomes your joint bank account. You can draw as much from it as you need or want anytime.
- His wealth, fame, toys, etc. are all just as much yours as his. You share a mansion; it’s legally in both your names. It’s just as much yours as his! You even get to redecorate it–with an unlimited budget.
- The honor and deference of total strangers, and all the joys and privileges of wealth, are yours just because you share his name. (In union with King Jesus, there is also no sin or death as an added bonus, so you actually get to enjoy it all!)
- You did nothing to earn this life; it’s only through union with your husband that you have any wealth, power, or influence.
- Now: we believers really do have a betrothed King as our husband-to-be, and He cannot fail to keep His promises to come back for us and fulfill each and every one.
- We are, in fact, already united with Him in His death (Romans 6:5) and able to draw on his sinless, perfect character as we walk through our earthly lives (Galatians 2:20).
- The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit resident in our hearts is one sure sign–one deposit in our eternal bank accounts (Ephesians 1:13-14)–of our union with Christ.
- All the unsearchable riches of the inheritance that is ours (as Elyse will wonderfully lay out before us) really hinge on this: we are in union with the richest, most loving, most beautiful being that ever was or will be, and He has determined to give us full title to all that He has, freely, by faith alone in His promises to do so.
- We already have this treasure waiting for us in Heaven, and we already live in the good of that treasure here and now, by faith in Him who loved us!
- On page 81, Elyse asserts “God is glorified when you appropriate your inheritance, because…” why? Why is your fight for, and appropriation of, your inheritance glorifying to God?
- Which of these aspects of our inheritance as Christians most resonated with you? Why–what grabs you about it?
- Everlasting happiness in Him (p. 82-83)
- Eternal life in His presence (p. 83-85)
- Reconciliation and peace with Him (p. 85-86)
- On pages 88-89, Elyse points out ways that we, as children of God who don’t grasp their true status, live as foster children, rather then true, beloved members of the family of God.
- Are there any of the aspects of the paucity of attitudes that foster children commonly have that resonated with you? If so, write them down in your journal and spend time in prayer concerning them.
- For each one, there are Scriptures that speak directly to the lies or false teachings that generate our doubts. Find at least one for each of the “foster child” attitudes that you just listed.
- If you’d like to share your struggles with this, we’d love to help you find answering Scriptures. Just use the “comment” link above!
- Is the concept of God guarding for you your inheritance a new one to you?
- Read again the verses quoted by Elyse from 1 Peter 1:3-5 on pages 89-90. Is this something you believe?
- This certainly ranks as one of the greatest promises on trying days where we know that we have not walked in faith or godliness! How can you really get a hold of it for the moments when doubts and despair seize your heart?
- Guess what? This is a great passage to minister to your husband and kids when they know that they’ve blown it, too! I once read a plaque in a bathroom that I’ve never forgotten: “People most need to be loved when they are the most unlovely.” Our loved ones might have blown it today, but they won’t always be trapped in sin. Tell them about these promises, and help them out of their dungeon cells!
- Father is guarding our lives, our futures, and our riches for us!
- How can you make His promise more accessible to yourself when you have doubts and fears for the future?
- God’s unfailing love, welcome, care, and riches are on full display in the Scriptures. Which of those precious passages most fits the lock of your cell door?
- Note sure? Elyse gives us some great ideas on pages 90-91. Do any of them help you specifically?
- Need more help? That’s what we’re all here for! Hit the “comment” link and see if we have any thoughts for you!
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I have been asking myself the same questions you did, for almost 6...
Chapter 5
One thing that is hard about this is that I am reading the book in my Logos software, so there are no page numbers in it at all. Sometimes I have trouble figuring out where to look.
1. I thought of it more when my dad died, I suppose. I was executor of his estate and had to distribute it. There wasn’t much,but it was more than I expected. I honestly have never really expected anything monetarily from my parents.. It was easy to work with my sister. Even though we are not close, there was no arguing or anything.. My dad’s inheritance was complicated. He was a manic depressive prone to rages. He was hospitalized several times. My sister seems to have inherited at least the depression part of that. It is an inheritance I have strived very hard to distance myself from.. I inherited more from my strong mother, get things done and make sure everything is taken care of. You couldn’t count on whether or not my father would be capable to take care of anything. In the end, I had to take care of my three times divorced father as he had alienated everyone else in his life.
2. My inheritance from God- everlasting life
While reading:
1. Probably don’t expect anyone to help you. I’ve always had to take care of myself. People marvel at me at church. They don’t have a clue.. I look like I have it all together, but I do not. As the only homeschooler, they marvel that I can do that. Even when I say it only because God called me to it, they don’t see how it is possible for them. They think they have to be a superwoman like me… I took care of my dying father for 5 years- including his living with us for 9 months, schooled my 4 children, was involved in several ministries in church, take care of all financial, traveling matters for our household.. To be honest, I’m not sure how I did it all except that God was with me and helped me. Yet I’m afraid the unbiblical, God helps those who help themselves is my mantra.
2. These are the scriptures that could combat that:
Psalm 18:1–3 (NIV84)
1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 30:2–3 (NIV84)
2 O LORD my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.
3 O LORD, you brought me up from the grave;
you spared me from going down into the pit.
Psalm 77 (NIV84)
Psalm 77
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint. Selah
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:
7 “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Selah
10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.
13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
John 14:15–19 (NIV84)
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
John 16:13–15 (NIV84)
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
I could write many more examples.
5. None of these are any aspects of the inheritance that grabbed me. This quotation spoke to me:
All the saving events and all the saving blessing of the gospel are means of getting obstacles out of the way so that we might know and enjoy God most fully. Propitiation, redemption, forgiveness, imputation, sanctification, liberation, healing, heaven—none of these is good news except for one reason:they bring us to God for our everlasting enjoyment of him.
I’ve always looked at salvation as a get out of jail free card..a live forever… not a get to know God better card… And the question is, do I really want that?? I think maybe I just didn’t want to die and He is the only option for me not to die. MMM… I’m not quite sure how to fix that. I really don’t desire to be with anyone. How do you desire to be with anyone?? It has always been a duty: You obey your parents, then you are supposed to find a husband, supposed to have children.. How does one even want to do anything??? I will ask Him, I suppose.
The thing I know that I have learned that was brought up again in this chapter is the concept that people still have a deluded thought that our suffering is God’s punishment. When my oldest child was born with the lifelong complications that a chromosome disorder brings, I felt like God was punishing me for some sin I had, but I could not figure out which sin that might be and why would a child have to suffer in my place? I’ve even had a respected pastor who could see the two children with obvious disabilities with their parents tell the 50-75 people assembled that the parents of disabled children must have done some horrible sin. Basically, it comes down to this – if we believe that God is the author of suffering, then we are worshiping a false God. I still don’t understand suffering other than we live in a fallen world and God will someday redeem it for His current and future glory. I came to that point in my life where I had to decide if God was the God of the Bible or what my circumstances led me to believe. I chose to believe in the God of the Bible and see circumstances through his eyes.