COLOSSIANS 1:12

“joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

I have had a lot of different types of jobs over my 64 years of life. I had a lawn mowing business with my brother, Tim, when I was young. The qualifications for that job were simple. Know how to crank a mower and sweat, lol. I progressed to service station attendant where I learned how to service cars, change tires and work with customers. Over the years different jobs required different qualifications. Yet it always seemed that the Lord did the qualifying before the job arose.

Paul uses a Greek word for “has qualified” that is only used by him in the New Testament. He only uses it here and in 2 Corinthians 3:6 where he says, “who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” The word is hikanoó which implies empowerment from an outside source for a particular role or assignment. God qualifies or makes us adequate. It is not something we can do ourselves.

APPLICATION

In today’s verse, God is qualifying us “to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” Wow! That sounds pretty exciting, doesn’t it? This inheritance is spoken of throughout the New Testament. In Romans 8:17 we read, “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

1 Peter 1:4 says this, “and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,” John tells us in Revelation 21:7, “The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.”

Three different writers saying the same thing. God has birthed us into His family, thus making us heirs with Christ in His kingdom light. We have been delivered from the domain of darkness. We will reign with Him eternally. And what qualifies us? Nothing we have done. He qualifies us through His Son. Once we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are qualified. We are His. He is ours. That is the highest qualification ever!

O Lord, thank You for qualifying me to be a part of Your eternal dynasty!