inheritance

Acts 2: 14a, 22-32/ 1 Peter 1:3-9

The two scriptures we read today took place in two very different times.  The lesson from Acts took place at Pentecost- just 50 days after the resurrection that first Easter.  Many people in the crowd that Pentecost morning had seen the miracles of Jesus and heard Jesus teach first hand.  They had been direct witnesses to the life and ministry of Christ. 

The Lesson from 1 Peter is taken from a letter written by followers of Peter to established churches in the early Christian faith, some 50 to 60 years and hundreds of miles away from the events of that first Easter.  Both of these groups are witnesses to the ministry of Christ.  Maybe not first-hand witness but witnesses to the same faith, hope and love we find in Christ today.  It has been 1,981 years since the death and resurrection of Jesus but we continue to be witnesses to the ministry of Christ. 

The words of 1 Peter remind us that “Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy.” 

It is hard to believe in things we cannot experience with our senses.  The early disciples had the benefit of seeing, touching, and hearing Jesus, tasting and smelling the bread which he shared with them.  Maybe we feel at a loss because we have been unable to share those same experiences.  That has been one of the questions and criticisms of those who don’t believe in God.  How can we as Christians believe in something we have never seen?  To unbelievers, Jesus is just a name. 

Our scripture tells us that even though we have not seen, we have inherited the word of God and our faith, through the shared experiences of Christians across the generations and the love, forgiveness, salvation and life from our creator. 

This inheritance is a gift from God to all who choose to accept it.  For those who have faith it is simply the removal of the gloves, blindfold, and earplugs that prevented us from touching, seeing, hearing  and experiencing these gifts before. 

We are reborn in our faith when we are able to remove these barriers which prevent us from experiencing God.  40 generations have passed since Jesus’ resurrection and we are made aware of these gifts through the grace of God and through the stories and actions of the generations who have come before.

None of you know my Grandma Ouida.  She lived with my family most of my life and had a major impact on who I am today.  I have a shadow box which contains much of the physical things I inherited from her.  Some of are just trinkets and objects of sentimental value but some of this goes much deeper than just sentiment.  Some of these things symbolize the shaping of my life and my faith.  My grandmother was God fearing, fiercely independent, strong and faithful.  But as a woman married in the pre-civil rights/ pre-women’s rights movement she lost part of her identity when she married- she was no longer Ouida, The certificate shows her name to be Mrs. John Brashear.  So the certificate in the box reminds me of the rights and freedoms I have because people of her generation made a decision to fight so that things would be different for their daughters and granddaughters. 

The certificate and Pins are from her years as a United Methodist Woman.  I remember going to UMW meetings with Mom and Grandma as a girl.  Learning first-hand what it meant to be in service and Mission for Christ.  I inherited my desire to “do” God’s work from these women.  As I grew older and helped begin new UMW units in various churches and began serving at the District Level, I was taught leadership, strength of character and a deeper understanding of my faith, because of women who wanted to share their love for Christ and their passion for the people God loves with me and this is what encouraged me to believe that I could be in ordained ministry.

I know my story is not unique.  Each one of you inherited your faith through the words and actions of someone else.  Maybe it was a family member, or maybe it was someone from the family of God who introduced you to Christ.  But, because someone introduced you to Jesus and shared the word of God with you- you have been able experience the abundance of love and joy we receive from God.

What we inherit is a gift of God but it comes through the lives of people who love Christ.  It is passed down from generation to generation-not just family lines but through the inheritance of being part of the family of God and a community of believers.   Those first Christians went into the world and told others about Jesus, his ministry and resurrection.  The next generation did the same thing and it has been repeated over and over again so that we, as believers today can continue to be witnesses of the cross to others. 

The people who crucified Jesus, intended for it to be an end to Jesus ministry; to put an end to the inheritance of his faith and ministry but what man meant for evil, God intended for good.  God used that moment to show just how powerful God is.  

Acts 2:24 says, “But God raised him up, having freed him form death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.”  Resurrecting Jesus from the dead proved God’s power and proved the religious leaders of the day wrong.  Instead of an ending, it has been the most powerful continuation of faith, this world has ever seen and we have been given a new birth through our faith in the risen Lord.  Because of the resurrection we know that Jesus is more than just a name.

This same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power we inherit through our faith in Jesus Christ.  It is the power which takes our struggles in this life and makes us stronger.  It is the same power which lifts us up out of our self-pity and allows us to experience joy even when those on the outside cannot see a reason to rejoice.  It is the same power which gives you peace when everything around you seems uncomfortable and chaotic.  It is the power that allows us to give up our attempt to control and trust that God can take care of whatever is out of our control. 

This is our inheritance and it is the most precious gift we could have ever been given- better than any trinket or life insurance policy we could ever buy in this life because it gets us through every day and goes with us everywhere we go. 

We are all indebted to those who invited us to share in this gift from God.  We are all grateful for the joy, mercy, grace, peace, and freedom we have found in the unconditional love of Christ- because someone was willing to witness to us and help us remove the things in life that prevented us from experiencing the fullness of Christ.  This inheritance is intended as a gift for everyone.  There is plenty to share.

I would like for you to take some time, read the scriptures, pray, talk with God, your spouse, your best friend, me or someone you trust.  Think about, talk about or write down what your relationship with Jesus means to you.  When did Jesus become more than just a name to you?  What would you be missing without Christ in your life? Who are you indebted to for offering you the word of God and encouraging you in your faith? What is it about Jesus that you think others shouldn't live without?  Spend time reminding yourself of why you love Jesus and why your faith community is so integral to your life of faith. 

After you have done this I encourage you to ask God to lead you and help you find someone to invite to lunch or coffee.  Get to know them, spend time listening to their stories and after a few cups of coffee, when you feel the moment is right, ask God to help you share your faith with them.  Find someone or several someones to mentor and encourage in their walk with Christ. 

I am forever grateful to my grandma, family, the men, women, pastors and UMW ladies who guided my walk of faith and continue to guide and mentor me.  As we celebrate the inheritance we have received from God and from the people of God in our lives; ask this question- 

Who will we pass on this wonderful inheritance to?  It is meant to be shared and while family is extremely important for creating a foundation of faith- it takes a village, the whole family of God to mentor, nurture, and encourage one another in our walk of faith.