Unclaimed inheritances – I hear about them all the time and I wonder, who would NOT claim a free gift that is their rightful inheritance? Yet I’ve read that many inheritances do go unclaimed because the recipients are unaware that someone, somewhere, has willed something to them. They don’t know that this inheritance is already theirs. They don’t know that nothing remains but for them to act. All they need to do is to show up and claim their inheritance.

Even so, many inheritances remain unclaimed still today. Unbelievable but true. I don’t want to be so foolish as to leave my God given inheritance unclaimed. His gift has been given. God sent me the gift of His Son. And contained in His gift is everything – I mean everything I could ever want or need. In Colossians, the apostle Paul says this about Jesus –

“namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. . . . For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:3 & 9-10)

Wow! You and I have been given fullness in Christ! Why would we not claim that inheritance? Moreover, in John we read what Jesus Himself said –

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

Some translations say “and have it more abundantly” and the NLT translation reads “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Why would I leave this gift unopened, this inheritance unclaimed? It’s a pretty big inheritance. When I look into it, I discover more than I ever dreamed possible. For starters, I am definitely an heir. If not, then I couldn’t inherit anything. But I am and I can!

“But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:4-7)

There it is – I am an heir! This means there is an inheritance that is mine – all I need to do is to claim it. Why would I not want to receive all that God wants to give me? King David wrote in the psalms about our inheritance as God’s children and all that it contains –

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” (Psalm 103:2-6)

Forgiveness, healing, redemption, rescue from my circumstances, love, compassion, renewed strength, and all those “good things” which are too numerous to name, probably because they are never ending, such as His mercies which “are new every morning” – why would I not claim my rightful inheritance as a child of God, created in His image? There is so much He wants to give me, if only I would humble myself and receive it. For example, peace – who doesn’t desire peace these days? Jesus says –

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Peace is one of God’s many good gifts, part of my inheritance in Jesus. In Philippians I am reminded this gift is mine. When I bring my needs and my fears to my Heavenly Father, He takes them and gives me His peace in their place.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

The good news about my inheritance in Jesus is that it is a sure thing. All I need do is accept God’s gift to me of His Son. Peter says of this gift –

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

An inheritance that can “never perish, spoil or fade” – lose its value or be taken from me – that’s an inheritance I want to claim! It comes with so many good gifts – like God’s infinite grace.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

My inheritance starts and ends with the gift of the Giver’s Presence. When I claim my inheritance, I receive His promise – the same promise given to Joshua –

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

As this season of Advent draws to a close, I will be sure that I have not left unopened God’s gift to me. I will claim and receive my inheritance as His child with joy, gladness and gratefulness. It is a miraculous inheritance – an inheritance that should never go unclaimed by its rightful recipients. And who are the rightful recipients, the rightful heirs of God’s gift? It is none other than you and me and everyone and anyone who believes on the name of His Son, Jesus.

“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God -” (John 1:12)

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12)

I don’t know about you, but I do not want to leave my inheritance unclaimed. The gift has been given. The package has been delivered. It is time for me to reach out and receive it. It is time for me to open my door, bring my gift inside and make room for the gift of God’s Presence in my life on a daily basis. He has come to stay. My inheritance is eternal life. Yours too. Let’s not leave this gift of God unopened and unclaimed.

“Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is He, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – He is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:7-10)

sincerely, Grace Day