God's Portion?

When discussing salvation, it's easy to become captivated with this end of eternity, and this end of salvation's benefits. We often only think about why we have been saved, and we fail to consider what God will get out of it! We are running towards a prize (Phil 3;14), but what will God receive? We are expecting an inheritance (1 Pet 1:4), but what about Jesus? What is God's portion from human existence? Well, Scripture clues us in: "For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance" (Deut 32:9). Simply said, we are the prize Jesus is seeking! We are His purchased treasure (Exod 15:16; Ps 135:4); believers are to be His inheritance (1 Sam 10:1; Ps 78:71); We have been formed FOR HIM (Isa 43:21)! John tells us that we have actually been given to Jesus by the Father: "those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost" (Jn 17:12)! Personally, this thought ravishes my heart! It makes me want to please Him all the more!

It's fascinating that in Scripture, it was only worshippers who were really concerned about God's portion (Mk 14:3-9; Song 4:16). Most others seemed to be preoccupied with themselves and their own portion. Such a true concern for Jesus' inheritance is the sign of a lover (Jn 4:23-24).

Interestingly enough, the apostle Paul prayed for his sheep to be overtaken with this glorious and heart-wrenching understanding: "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Eph 1:15-18). How wonderful that He sees such a treasure in you and I!

Another example of this thought is found in the tabernacle of Moses. Here, God said: "Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them" (Exod 25:8). Can we notice the cry of God coming forth from this verse? He truly wants to dwell with His creation! He's always wanted to!

Notice that this proposal originated within God Himself.. it wasn't a casual whim of humanity that lead God to respond. Rather, it was God's idea. His "deep" beckons the deepest part in us (Ps 42:7)! And those who respond will never be ashamed.

As one writer so aptly put it, "the great craving of the divine heart is to get an abode with man!" I agree completely. He has reached out to us! And He yet is reaching! We see this manifested all throughout time and Scripture. God first dwelt with man in the garden, then in the tabernacle, then in the temple, then in the Person of His Son Jesus, now in believers (1 Cor 3:16)! Believers are now the antitypical fulfillment of all that God had longed for since the beginning. Though it was manifested in a tabernacle and temple, these pointed to the living temples that would soon be washed in blood, and therefore able to house the Holy Spirit, and abide with God Himself (Gal 3:13-14)! And one day this longing mutual relation will reach it's glorious and sovereign fulfillment; It will indeed come to an expected end (Jer 29:11). We will be seated at the very right hand of Jesus, as His wedded one, as His bride (Ps 45:9; Song 4:8-11; Rev 21:2)! And oh What a relation that will be! Hallelujah!