July 13, 2015 WWJWMTD by Steve the son of John

Got Inheritance?

#1 in the series on forgiveness

For sometime now, there has been a growing movement for individuals to find who they are through the discovery of their ‘family tree’. There are a few websites that will help you find your ancestors while telling you how you got here and who is in your historical lineage.

God planned from the beginning for all of us to be connected to our past and to act upon it. However, all family trees can yield surprises that sometimes would be better left alone. Our inheritance in Christ is tied into who we are and from whom we came from. The Old Testament is full of examples of family trees, lineage, and all the problems associated with relatives—past and present.

‘Family’ can cause problems when it comes to our inheritance. Family members fight over their inheritance or lack of. The most significant example and O.T. story about inheritance is the story of Esau and Jacob. Two brothers wanting the same thing—their inheritance, and went about getting it in very different ways.

Jacob manipulated Esau when he was starving, and under pressure Esau gave to Jacob his rightful inheritance. Esau later regretted his decision and had great hatred and bitterness toward Jacob. What is interesting about this story is God’s reaction to all of this.

The Bible makes a point that Esau sought carefully and honestly for God to forgive him. He was indeed repentant, full of regret and sorrow, with sincere crying, and continued often to ask God, but God would not respond to his request. Why? The answer is simple: Esau asked God for forgiveness but would not offer forgiveness to Jacob.

Wow! Once again we find in Scripture that forgiveness comes to us only when and if we offer the same forgiveness to others. Esau never regained his inheritance because of his lack of forgiveness to his brother. I am sure God would have returned all or part of Esau’s inheritance if only the forgiveness he was asking of God would be granted to the person who did him wrong—Jacob.

Want to know why you do not have your inheritance? It is not a question of doing God’s will, or not having enough faith, or finding God’s timing—it is simply a question of forgiveness. Want your inheritance—can you forgive others with the same intensity and on the same level that God has forgiven you?

Your and mine spiritual and earthly inheritance equals your willingness to forgive. “Blessed are the meek (those who humble themselves and forgive) for they shall inherit the earth.” It’s just that simple—start forgiving!

WWJWMTD

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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