CHAPTER 10:
My mom passed away almost 3 years ago at the time I’m writing this. She didn’t have much to leave her children: some household items we wanted, pictures, books, a little money in a bank account. My inheritance was not grand if you measure it by tangible items. But my mom did leave a legacy of other things: traditions, a sense of family, a spirit of adventure, and some really great mottos to live by. Such sayings included, “Everything should have a place . . . and it should be there” and “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” But the thing I am most grateful to have inherited from my mother is faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Despite all of her short-comings, my mom loved Jesus, and she wanted all of her kids to love Jesus as well.
Read Deuteronomy Chapter 10:1-9.
What event does Moses recall for the Israelites in verses 1-5?
Which tribe was set apart and what was their job?
The Levites will not receive any land as an inheritance in the Promised Land. What do they receive instead?
Inheritance. What does that mean? Webster’s defines inheritance as “the acquisition of a possession, condition, or trait from past generations.” The Israelites would not acquire any land, but instead would acquire the LORD. Like the Levites, there is nothing in this world that is our inheritance. Despite the fact that we may be left some possessions from a relative or even some quirky sayings, our spiritual inheritance is not bound to this earth. No. We have a different inheritance.
Read 1Peter 1:3-5.
Who has secured this inheritance for you?
What words describe this inheritance?
Where is your inheritance located?
Our inheritance is secured by Christ, granted to us by faith, and protected by God. It is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is a living hope given to us in great mercy. Our inheritance isn’t land or money or castles or anything like that. Our inheritance is our heavenly Father. We get Him! I can’t even imagine what that will be like, but just look around you. Look at the beautiful land and sky, the flowers and trees. Think about the forces of nature that keep our universe moving in perfect order. Consider the love and grace He extends to wretched sinners. It is all a reflection of Him, a reflection of our inheritance. When we leave this fading earth, we will be walking into a glorious inheritance beyond our imagining.
Read Romans 8:14-17.
Whose children are we?
Who are we co-heirs with?
Read Colossians 1:9-12.
Verse 12 says that believers have been “qualified” to this inheritance. The previous verses list things that we should do because of this great gift. What are some things we should do?
Our inheritance should put a spirit of gratitude in our hearts. It should cause to desire Him more and grow in our knowledge of Him through study and prayer. We should want to reach out to others with the good news of the gospel. Thankfulness should fill our hearts. That is the attitude we should hold about our inheritance.
Have you considered God as your inheritance? Why or why not?
What holds you back from growing in your knowledge of Him?
What holds you back from sharing Him with others?
Read Deuteronomy 10: 10-22.
What does Moses tell he Israelites to do in verse 16?
Why are they to do this? (Look in verse 17.)
I remember reading this verse with my mom one day. Her take on circumcising your heart? “That hurts!” she said. Mom was right. Cutting the things away that hold our heart back from the Lord does hurt. It requires that we take the time to survey our life, to dig deep at what is rooted in our hearts, and remove the things that don’t belong. And if digging deep isn’t hurtful enough, then you must break those habits and form new God-honoring ones. Cue. Craving. Response. Reward. You must rebuild your habit loop. That takes time, but I can say this: daily time studying scripture, filling your mind with Christ,and prayer can all seriously impact your habit loop. God can and will help you. You will find Him if you search for Him. And who knows, maybe circumcising your heart and rebuilding your habit loop is all a walk in the wilderness meant to bring you closer to the Lord, closer to your inheritance.
This circumcising your heart process is called sanctification. It is the act of making you more holy than you were. If you are continually seeking the LORD in this life, you will be continually in this process. There will always be something the LORD is working on in your heart. “Sanctify me through and through” is the plea of 1 Thessalonians 5:23. It should be our plea too. Walk on, my friend, and be sanctified, for that is God’s will for you.
Lesson to Remember: God is your inheritance.
A Way to Walk: Allow yourself to be sanctified by circumcising your heart and rebuilding your habit loop with God-honoring activities.
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