INHERITANCE??

Sunday’s Monday

What do you think of when you think of the word inheritance? Here is what I found in dictionary.cambridge.org; Inheritance, money, land, or possessions received from someone after the person has died; Inheritance also means the particular characteristics received from parents through the genes. In-which is exactly what I thought until I received a new revelation on inheritance. I attended a service this week where Pastor Caroll Anthony added memories and lifestyle to the definition and that so intrigued me. It explained a lot about who I was before Jesus saved me and who I am today. Under this new light, I can see my ancestors left me an inheritance that I couldn’t take to the bank, yet it added to my value. There are so many things that we thoughtlessly bestow to family, friends, and neighbors which usually go unrecognized until our journey on earth is over. It is then many eyes will be opened to see the value or lack thereof left as memories in the lifestyle we lived while alive.

I think James hit on this thought when he pinned James 2:14 (NLT), 14 What good is it, dear brothers, and sisters if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Write this inside your mind, your lifestyle will be severely judged by people when you depart the living of this world. Sadly, it will be those closest to you that will scrutinize what they have inherited from your lifestyle as they are the ones who usually benefit or are hindered the most. You see virtues can be equated to that of currency, you have positive and negatives, savings versus debt, and so on. The speaker went on to say that certain memories and virtues have the power to pick you up when your down, strengthen you when you are weak, and comfort you where you are. Is that not what the bible tells us Jesus can do for those who received His inheritance?

Taking a slice from my own life there was a time when my values were all over the place. It seemed when I was doing the most good for others, I was all about myself in the spotlight and when I was committed to Jesus, I excused the duties to others. I just couldn’t get my mind wrapped around how things were supposed to work and I was going nuts. That is until Jesus showed me that I wasn’t the only one to have this problem, James wrote in James 2:18 (NLT), Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” It stung like a hornet, but it stuck! This life is not about me or what I can get, the beauty of God’s system is what I receive, I share. Again, many of you will see dollar signs but that’s as temporal as it comes. Remember the coffee ads on TV, “the best part of waking up” ….. Is truly knowing you have another opportunity to share the goodness of God with others. That is what I pray others will find in the inheritance I’m building with God to leave behind.

I have placed a ton of life in my war chest over the years, a lot of which I’m not proud of and some of which bring shame. I used to be obsessed with hiding my shameful deeds until God told me, it took it all, to bring me where I am today. After the service, God gave me the vision of a prospector searching for Gold, struggling for years to strike it big and only finding enough to keep him interested in finding more. I was the prospector who chose the least likely places to hit it big and then hated the world for my bad decisions. Then one day, at the end of another worthless venture, I found myself so beat down, exhausted, and lost that I cried out for help and Jesus answered! He led me, step by step through my recovery. He is teaching me how to find nuggets that go beyond earthly value. I am learning; If I love, I’ll care; if I care, I’ll do; if I do, I’ll encourage; if I encourage, people will know love, and the love of Jesus can continue endlessly. I hope to leave this world with the legacy of Acts 20:32 (NLT), “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. Here is a fun fact: Read, Romans 8:14-19 and learn.

Father God, may we each receive the revelation of inheritance both yours and ours. Help us to leave this world an inheritance of your wisdom, your kindness, and your love. May others see in our lives that which you’ve inspired in Ephesians 1:18 (NLT), I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. Amen

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!

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