I remember my grandma – Nana, as I loved to call her – talking to my mom about the importance of leaving an inheritance to her children and grandchildren one late evening when I was in high school.
As a teenager, I remember thinking how silly that sounded. Why should she leave money behind for us to enjoy when she could enjoy the money now? I know she had dreams of traveling the world and building that addition on her home, like she had always talked about. And we were not a family of means, though my grandpa worked hard all of his life in the automobile factories where my family lives in Indiana. We knew the sacrifice it cost her to put money away in the bank each month. But my Nana was a generous woman. She loved to give and bless those in her family. It brought her joy to be able to help provide for her loved ones.
And so as she would talk about this inheritance that we would have one day, we would smile, kiss her on her forehead and thank her for her giving heart… never wanting or expecting a penny.
As the years went by my sweet grandpa passed away, and a few years later my Nana eventually went into an assisted living facility. Ohhh we tried to talk her into moving to Texas and living with us, but not that Indiana born and raised woman. Though she loved her family in Texas, she couldn’t bear the thought of not being in the same area she had lived her whole life. We learned that you can take Nana out of Indiana but you can’t take Indiana out of Nana. Indiana was in her blood and in her heart. She just couldn’t grow roots out here in Texas, so she went back to Indiana to live near our family there.
Yet make no mistake, every time we would go to visit her she would remind us of the inheritance she had sacrificed for us; the inheritance that was waiting for us. And visit after visit we would smile, kiss her on her forehead and thank her.
As the years went on, her sweet sacrificial inheritance dwindled down as the cost of the home increased. Eventually the inheritance she had spent years investing into was gone….and she was heartbroken. My Nana cried when she told us. All those years of saving, sacrificing: gone in her eyes, but not in ours. Like always, we would smile, lean down and kiss her on the forehead, and this time told her that she had already given us the best inheritance a Nana could give…loving memories of a woman who loved her family with every part of her heart.
My sweet Nana is now in heaven, and she is experiencing the reality of the amazing inheritance Peter talks about in Chapter One. An inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. An unlimited bank account that can never be emptied by too many withdraws.
This is the reality for those who are found in Christ. Here Peter writes a letter of hope to a people, then and now, who are suffering, hurting… who are needing to be reminded that there is this amazing inheritance waiting for them when they get to heaven. An inheritance beyond anything they can ever imagine. A place with no more pain, sadness or heartbreak. A place were we are finally complete, whole… and without sin.
The place our hearts and minds have been aching for since we drew our first breath. Home. Our real home.
As we dive into 1 Peter this week, let me end with this encouragement…
Like Peter states at the very beginning of Chapter One, we are strangers in the world.
This is not our home. So let’s start living with this truth in mind.
Let’s stop trying to make heaven here on earth.
Let’s stop trying to “save” for the future, and instead pour our lives into NOW.
Jesus is coming back you all, and with the passing of each day His arrival is getting closer and closer. Let’s spend our days wisely, investing in what will last for eternity…
Let’s Talk:
How does focusing on the fact that those who are saved have an amazing inheritance waiting for them in heaven change your outlook of life?
Love God Greatly!
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It’s so wonderful to read these first five verses slowly, and savour them. We often skip over these long introductions by Paul, Peter, and others, and yet they are so beautiful, and so full – full of the precious identity that they own and recognise as being so crucial to the followers of Christ.
Focussing on our inheritance helps to clear away so much clutter. Firstly all our other definitions and roles – our primary role is as a daughter of God, a Messenger, etc. and secondly to hold lightly to today – both the good things and the bad, and keep our focus on the long-game.
Thank you for this inspiring start to the Peter study!
Victoria,
What a great point about our roles as women. We are first and foremost daughters of the King! Once our focus is on that, all other things in our lives fall into place. Thank you for the reminder and for joining us in this wonderful study!
~Terria
Victoria, YES – I agree. I love it when we dive into it all, and we don’t skip these verses. Thank you for this wonderful reminder.
Blessings, Marlene {LGG Encourager}
Angela tthank you for sharing the story of your nana. My nanny was the same way. She went home 2 years ago and though it wasn’t much for years I got a monthly check of 25 dollars and the last time I saw her she told me she knew there wouldn’t be much savings left and those checks where my inheritance.
As far as your question we need to all realize this is but temporary. We are here to spread His word. We have families and are so joyful during this time and I can’t help but think how it will be when we go home. It will be so joyful that we can never imagine it.
<3
Jami,
I was also moved by Angela’s touching story of her nana. Both you and Angela were blessed to have women with generous and giving hearts in your lives. You are so right…it is easy to get wrapped up in our personal happiness and joy here on earth. But this world is not our home. Our rich inheritance is still yet to come. What a joy! Thank you so much for sharing and for joining us during this study.
~Terria
Jami, wow – so sweet to have such an amazing person like that in your life. That is a true blessing! And I agree, we all do need to realize this is all but temporary, and we are here to spread His word. Thank you for stopping by friend! 🙂
Blessings, Marlene {LGG Encourager}
“You all?”…..Angela I am so sorry but I am going to need to take away your Texas card if you are going to use phrases like that!! Haha wonderful post. Looking forward to this study.
Katie,
I kind of missed Angela’s Texas twang as well. LOL. Thank you for joining us for this wonderful study.
~Terria
LOL!! 🙂
Blessings, Marlene {LGG Encourager}
Oh what a hope of heaven! I read this blog with tears in my eyes as I thought of a precious family learning to live without their 20 year old son. And then I think of others experiencing loss today! But, there is such a precious hope of the inheritance we have of spending eternity with our Father! We may not have much of this earth’s goods but what we DO have in Jesus simply doesn’t compare!
AMEN! We have enough in Him! Thank you for sharing that reminder with us, Leah!
Blessings, Marlene {LGG Encourager}
Hi Angela
I’m from Ohio and yes myself and family work in the automotive industry. I also am a Nana and I love how your memory of her is having such a generous heart. I would love for my grandchildren to remember me that way. My goal is to make people fill special even if its just by really listening to them. Sometimes it might be in a big way like a birthday party and sometimes it maybe in a small way. It’s very comforting knowing that our loved ones who have passed are enjoying that inheritance now. Thanks for post!
That’s an awesome goal Angela. Often times, all people really need/want , is for someone to listen to them. It’s comforting and it makes them feel cared about.
Blessings, Marlene {LGG Encourager}
Angela, would you mind if I borrowed your goal? I think this is exactly what I should be doing as well!
Good afternoon. I am very much looking forward to this new study. With regard to looking forward to what is to come after our life here on Earth, I am completely at ease. I have people make fun of me for all of the end of life planning I have already done. I just want to be able to pass on & not have any worry as the time draws near that I left any uncertainties behind. My family knows I will be happily wrapped in Jesus’s arms, and that all they are to do is celebrate the eternal happiness I get to experience. If the only “inheritance” my son were to get from me was our family Bible I know he would be overjoyed.
Kat, I understand completely how you feel. I feel the same way. For years I have been making notes in my bible and underlining passages as my “inheritance” gift to them. Both of them are saved and follow the Lord, so I too know they will be overjoyed when they get them.
This is my first online study, and I thank my friend Trish for inviting me. I look forward to learning more from the study and sharing with each other.
Beautiful Katie!! I love that – I have all sorts of passages underlined but I think I will go back and insert little notes.
Martha, LGG Encourager
Kat,
Well said… I pray my son will be overjoyed with the family Bible when I long gone from this world.
Martha
Angela,
I can relate to the story of your nana. My mother in law is the same way. Every once in a while she’ll remind us of the inheritance she has saved up for our family. While we appreciate that she thought of us and loves us enough to do that, we’d much rather have her time and company. She’s such a great lady. We always tell her that but we can’t seem to convince her of it. We are all getting older and time isn’t slowing down. Serving/worshipping God, investing in family, friends and others is truly where it’s at. I believe it’s the very heart of God!
Blessings!
Phoebe, Thank you for stopping by! I love the listing you give of “where it’s at.” Absolutely agree.
Blessings, Amy A (LGG Encourager)
I am really excited about reading I and II Peter again. I am finding that the deeper I grow in Christ, the more He reveals to me in His word every time I read it. So I am awaiting new revelations and am eagerly anticipating what God will uncover.
Marilyn, We are glad that you are on this journey with us. Praying together with you that we will learn eagerly what God has in store.
Blessings, Amy A (LGG Encourager)
Recently I visited a dear friends mother in an assisted living home. She had a stroke and it affected her speech so it was so hard to understand her. I have known her 60 years and it broke my heart to see her struggling to talk to me. She has known Jesus all her life. She too has left an inheritance for her children but I know that money will be depleted quickly in that facility. I pray that her children focus most on mom and not get caught up in what will be left for them.
Nancy, Thank you for sharing this story. Watching loved ones grow old can be a source of stress for the family. What a lovely testimony of an inheritance of grace that she has left them. Praying with you that it will carry them through this time.
Blessings, Amy A (LGG Encourager)
This study made me think of something I was just telling my boys. They are 9 & 5 and we are talking about “what if Mommy got cancer & died, or what if Mommy or Daddy just died” I told them both don’t be sad for us. We are finally with Jesus & it will be wonderful. I told them that it’s only short on earth & our real home is heaven. They both were sort of shocked but then they said “will candy land be in heaven” lol. This was a wonderful 1st study as I continue to help care for my failing grandma who is 93. Thank you!
Oh Holly, what a wonderful lesson to teach your boys. Too often I am guilty of having my focus on the here and now rather than the view of eternity. Thank you for stopping by!
Blessings, Amy A (LGG Encourager)
Holly, that’s so wonderful that you are speaking to your children about death already! Parents often neglect to have this talk with their kids! Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings, Marlene {LGG Encourager}
I was wondering what the best place is to see this study all together. I am doing the study after it has already occurred and am trying to find the easiest place i can click on, where it is all together each day. Not sure if it is listed under 1 and 2 Peter study somewhere and i am missing it? I find it in the blog but have to scroll thru all the later posts to get to the first. Just wondering if i a am missing something else or if that is the best place. Thank you so much for these studies. This one has already been a huge blessing.
Hi, is it possible to find all the videos and blogs for a study in one place with out having to search each day? I’m looking to do the 1-2 Peter study ….but because it was done a while ago, it seems hard to track down all the videos and the posts in one spot. Is it possible to put these together?
I am beginning this new bible study on 1 & 2 Peter. The hope and inheritance that Christ has offered me in my new life brings joy and hope to my life. I have been serving the Lord for 25 years and am so excited to find a study that can help me to study more effectively. Thank you for preparing this study and sharing it with others.