How to Claim Your Inheritance

by Rick Warren — June 10, 2023
From 40 Days in the Word

“I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

Acts 20:32 (NIV)

You have an inheritance coming to you. How do I know that? The Bible promises an inheritance to those who read God’s Word.

The Bible says in Acts 20:32, “I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (NIV). 

An inheritance is what you get for being part of a family; it’s rightfully yours. 

If your father dies and you never took the time to read his will, you’d be foolish. You wouldn’t get what was rightfully due to you. You wouldn’t benefit from what belongs to you as his child. 

When you become a follower of Jesus, you’re not just a believer—you’re a belonger. You become a part of God’s family. Family privileges come along with that decision. You have a spiritual inheritance!

But if you walked through your entire life and you didn’t know what benefits were available to you as a child of God, that would be sad—and foolish. God wants you to grow and know what’s available to you from him. To do that, you need to read the Bible. 

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (NIV).

The purpose of the Bible is to help you live out your purpose that God has for your life; it’s God’s inheritance that’s due to you. God wants you to be thoroughly equipped for what he made you to do. To do that, he does four things through Scripture:

He teaches you. God shows you the path on which you should walk.
He rebukes you. God shows you when you’re off the path.
He corrects you. God shows you how you can get back on the path.
He trains you. God shows you how you can stay on the path.

That’s how God’s Word helps you grow and get that great inheritance he has prepared for you. But you only get it if you open up the Bible and start reading!

Talk It Over

  • How should your life be different when you have an inheritance from the King of Kings?
  • Do you want the Bible to teach, rebuke, correct, and train you? In what ways does your time in God’s Word reflect your answer?
  • What are some habits you need to change so that you are taking full advantage of the Bible’s instruction?

Have you claimed your inheritance through Jesus?

You’ve got a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. But you must believe in Jesus and receive him as your Lord and Savior.

Are you ready? Start by praying this simple prayer: “Dear God, I know when I die, I’m going to give an account of my life to you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and toward you.

“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all that I’ve done wrong so that I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know only your grace can save me, Lord. I could never be good enough to get into a perfect place.

“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask you to save me. I believe in you, Jesus. And I believe you will keep your promise to save me instantly, certainly, completely, and eternally. In your name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


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