Ephesians 1:18 – I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. (NIV 2011)

It seems like only yesterday that my sister gently cradled a small box in her hand and gently lifted the lid. Inside, for her Christmas tree, rested heirloom ornaments, her inheritance from our grandmother. One by one, she raised each item from its nest of white wrapping and placed it on the tree, in just the right position so that light from the fireplace would flicker off the glass into the room, for all to enjoy.

By now, the colourful treasures will have once again been boxed and stored, having been enjoyed for a few days, not to return until next December. Have you ever treated Christ in such a manner? Have you put away the nativity scene and Christmas ornaments and let Christ fade from mind for the rest of the year?

Ornaments such as my sister's inheritance are lovely, but we leave them and everything earthly behind when we die. We need to pay year-round attention to our spiritual inheritance that comes from the eternal light of Christ, because He is the greatest gift of all, and this gift lasts forever. As soon as we accept the Saviour's forgiveness of our sins, we can begin to live in that inheritance by living God's way, worshipping Him, and serving Him now. We are assured of heaven through the Holy Spirit, and life everlasting in the presence of God.

Christ came to earth as a baby, sent by His Father with a purpose, a cherished treasure of worth, Who had been prophesied for centuries. He was the sacrificial Lamb Who would die for the sins of the world, bringing an end to the blood sacrifices for sin as commanded in the Old Testament.

We think of the Christ Child and smile because most of us love babies. But then, we are sobered when we realize that He was born to die, as an adult, for our sins, so that we could be presented pure and holy before God. Not only that, when He arose again, He left with us a spiritual inheritance of forgiveness of sins, a plan for our lives, and eternal life in heaven through His righteousness.

We show our love for Him by living in His light, singing joyful praises, worshipping His holiness, and dedicating time for Him each day. Let us think about what He did to give us an inheritance to live out daily that will be continued in heaven. His light cannot be hidden or fade.

Prayer: Dear Father God, as we learn about the complexities within the Baby Jesus, the Light of the world, help us walk in our inheritance moment by moment as we shine Your light of faith in Christ to others. Amen.

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About the author:

Karen Milam <karenbmilam@gmail.com>
Penn Valley, California, USA
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