We must remember that the people Paul was targeting here were very different. They were young Christians and could not understand and believe everything when they heard it for the first time.

It is also necessary that we should often hear that familiar message again because through the noise of the world and the ego the familiar becomes unfamiliar. And that is why this simple message is repeated: God loved you so much that He gave his only Son so that you and I can inherit the kingdom of God.

Every day I receive about three e-mails notifying me that I’ve inherited 5 million pounds from an uncle I never knew I had. Speedily following on this one is the e-mail telling me I’ve won many more millions in another country’s Lotto. But I know I’ve never ever bought a Lotto ticket and the fact is: If you want to win, you have to enter!

We also know by this time that things simply never just land in your lap. But God’s love works differently. He came to us from love, only love, and prepared an amazing inheritance for us. Just like that, without us having to enter. And it’s certainly not a scam!

The greatest gift you can ever receive is to be named as heir without deserving it. Not because you’re such a handsome and neat young man or cute young girl, but because God had given his Son. It’s an inheritance with a capital I! but it doesn’t stop there. God goes further and shares many bequests: 6 You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!”

God gives part of Himself. No! He gives Himself as part of the inheritance and says: “I will come and help you”. If your life is a mess and you can’t even call out to God, then I will do it for you. It’s an inheritance you can use. You don’t have to wait any longer.

A while ago I received an enormous inheritance: My life! Very late one evening I was driving home to Stellenbosch from Somerset West. The road consists of two double lanes with a wide median strip. As I came over a hill I was blinded by bright lights. I couldn’t understand what was going on. Fortunately, I swerved to the left and we missed one another. The oncoming car was in my lane and did not realise at all that his lane was on the other side of the median strip! Must have been drunk or simply totally clueless. An accident can happen so quickly!

I wonder how many times in my life the Spirit had simply taken over? How far I must have been off the road sometimes? But then the Spirit of God living inside me pulls me out of harm’s way so that I can go on living. How many times have I pulled away from God and tried to do my own thing! But every single time the Holy Spirit softly takes over the wheel to bring me closer to God again. All out of love.

Man, the Lord must love me so much not to let me go.

Come on, people, let’s live like royal children who have inherited millions. And do not let us keep it to ourselves. Many people out there urgently need part of that inheritance!

Galatians 4:1-7

Reflection

Do you know about your inheritance?

How does the inheritance that you’ve already received from God impact upon your life?

Do you share some of it with the people around you or do you keep everything to yourself?

Prayer

Father, thank you for making me so undeservedly heir to all that is in heaven. Thank you that I can now already use my inheritance to be a blessing to others. Thank you that your Holy Spirit is already part of my life. Amen