We grow up thinking that we have certain rights and that we should exercise them as often as we can. Sometimes we even refer to these rights as “god-given.” Now that’s truly funny—that God would give us the kind of rights that most of us think we have: like being first or being better than others. Or deserving more than they do. We may call them “rights,” but they are far, far from the rights we inherited when we gave our hearts to Christ.

Jesus started early on in his ministry telling us that we must give up our earthly rights. He taught that we are to turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile, and give to all who ask (and not just what they ask for, but more). In their place, Jesus has given us heavenly rights. Making us partakers of the divine nature. No longer walking with the world, but seated with Him in the heavenlies.

As believers we have the right to esteem others better than ourselves, to deny ourselves, to empty ourselves, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. Furthermore, we have the right to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, to use weapons of warfare that are spiritual and not fleshly. We have the right to love our enemies and pray for them. And we have inherited every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm.

How great it is that these Jesus-bestowed rights are not temporary, but are of eternal value. Because NOW we are new creations. With an inheritance that will not fade or perish. No longer operating in the flesh, so no longer desiring the “rights” we used to claim.

In fact, who could settle for the rights we once had? Certainly not after tasting of His Spirit How wonderful that—because Jesus died for us—we can trade the rights we once held so dear, for the rights of a child of the King. Not to be used for Self, but to be used for Him so that others will know we love Him and they can see that trading our old rights for His rights brings far more blessing than any right we ever thought we had before.