… who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Summary: We finally arrive at the end of Paul’s sentence and discover why he has prayed so fervently for us.
How does Paul pray?
This ninety-nine-word sentence (Verses 9-12) of his tells us how he prays and what he prays for:
1. He prays continually.
2. He asks things of God (Luke 11:9-10).
3. Specifically, he asks us to be filled with knowledge of God’s will. He also tells us how he expects his prayer to be answered:
1. He explains how this happens through God’s Spirit.
2. He tells us why this is important, so we can:
⁃ Live a life worthy of Jesus
⁃ Please him in every way
⁃ Bear fruit through good work, and
⁃ Grow in the knowledge of God
3. All of this builds spiritual endurance and patience.
4. So we can know true joy in the Lord. And, then he tells us why all of this is possible.
God the Father, through his Son, Jesus Christ, has “qualified” us to “share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
What does that mean?
The Greek word Paul used for “qualified” is difficult to translate. Our English word “qualified” means to be certified or credentialed. In essence, it means that someone considered knowledgeable in the subject at hand has tested a person and found that they have the required knowledge or skills in the area of being tested.
God uses the word differently.
Instead of checking to see if someone is qualified, God takes on the challenge of ensuring that we are acceptable, not because of our effort, but because of his.
None of us are “qualified” on our own merit to share in God’s inheritance. Without God’s grace to show the man at the gate, none of us would ever see the inside of the “kingdom of light.”
But we do share in the same inheritance as God’s holy people.
We are “qualified” to share in God’s inheritance … because of Jesus.
Application: Tell Jesus ‘Thank you!’ for what he did so you could qualify for God’s inheritance.
Food for Thought: Who are the “holy people” that Paul mentions? Why are they considered holy?
Thanks brother. I like the charts in your devo.
Simply put, holy people are people who have put their faith in Christ and are set apart from the word for God’s purposes. They are holy because of Who Jesus is and because His righteousness now covers their lives.
At least that is one way to put it.
1 Corinthians 1: 30: It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Hebrews 10: 10 – 14: And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
Ephesians 1: 4: For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Leviticus 11: 44: I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.
1 Peter 1: 15 – 16: But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Thanks Rich!
I guess that means my other devotions have been in “uncharted” territory! 🙂
Thank you for your excellent overview of God’s holy people!