Day 2: Tradition, Inheritance & Heritage

Our institution has a tradition, we have an inheritance from God and these two become our heritage.

Tradition

• Institutional—or church—tradition is a good thing. Many times people hear “church tradition” and they think old stuffy lifeless religious tradition. But not all tradition is as such, the majority is the result of wisdom that has been passed on from generation to generation.
• When you read the devotional scriptures today, consider how the Bible treats the tradition of men in both positive and negative lights. How has institutional tradition shaped your walk with God? What traditions have been positive? Have you ever felt limited by tradition? How would these institutional traditions impact someone who is visiting our church for the first time?

Inheritance

• Our inheritance is the promise of our salvation that comes from God. In order to enjoy our promise we must remain steadfast and faithful to the life he gave. Our inheritance and traditions create our heritage, the daily Christian life we live.
• Consider now how the promise of God creates in you your testimony? How do you present that testimony to others through the traditions we have learned? What are some non-traditional ways can you share your testimony with others?

Final Thoughts

We have three values governing our walk with God and how we interact with others:

1. Personal values: these are the values that we hold dear to ourselves in order to maintain a holy lifestyle with God. But these are also the values that govern how we share our testimony with those around us.
2. Institutional values: these are the “church traditions” described above. These traditions often influence how we share our testimony with others.
3. Core values: these are immutable biblical precepts.

As you read through the scripture today, reflect on the core values of the scripture and how you process those through your personal values and as you attempt to apply them through the tradition you understand. Now here is the first radical idea in order to go make disciples:

• What heart-changes do you need to have in your personal values to fulfill the core values of sharing your testimony?
• How has your traditional mindset limited you in sharing your testimony with others?
• What is the difference between simply sharing the testimony of your past and the testimony of our heritage?

Biblical Devotion

Matthew 15:1-18  Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,  (2)  “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”  (3)  He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? (4)  For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ (5)  But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” (6)  he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. (7)  You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: (8)  “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; (9)  in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” (10)  And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: (11)  it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” (12)  Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”  (13)  He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. (14)  Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” (15)  But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.”  (16)  And he said, “Are you also still wiyout understanding? (17)  Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? (18)  But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

2 Thessalonians 3:5-6  May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.  (6)  Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

2 Thessalonians 2:15  Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

Luke 2:27-32  And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,  (28)  Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,  (29)  Lord, now lettest you thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:  (30)  For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,  (31)  Which you hast prepared before the face of all people;  (32)  A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Acts 20:32  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Acts 26:15-18  And I said, Who art you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute.  (16)  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things which you hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto you;  (17)  Delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send you,  (18)  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

1 Peter 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  (4)  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,  (5)  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Psalms 119:111  Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage forever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.