| Original Date: March 10, 2010 |
| Email Subject: A legacy that lasts |
Dear Friends,
I am constantly amazed at how concerned some people are with the kind of legacy they will be leaving. It doesn't matter if it is a politician, sports figure, musician, movie personality or just a regular ole joe like you and me. It seems people are concerned with what people will remember them for. Some even go as far as hiring people to project a favorable image about them, when their personal life is in a shambles, their homes are a wreck and those closest to them aren't to fond of the kind of person they are.
I was reading in Deuteronomy 10 today in my quite time and I was again challenged with what Moses had to say to the children of Israel about what constituted a good legacy from a biblical perspective. Now we know that many of the children of Israel like many today missed the mark because of their self centered living and perished in the dessert, but many others didn't and entered into the "Promised Land," that God had set apart for them. Read with me Vs. 16-22, "Circumcise then your heart and stiffen your neck no more. For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. He is your praise and He is your God who has done tese greast and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen."
Let me list some of the things from this text that are essential qualities of a legacy that lasts:
-Understand Who He is and who were not!
-Holiness of life-regardless of all that is going on around us
-Humility
-Love for those who are uncomfortable for us to be around, meeting their personal/emotinal needs and sharing the only hope that will meet their spiritual needs
-Respect, honor, reverence and fear of the Lord alone!
-Serve Him with a whole heart, passionately
-Cling to Him through the storms of life-regardless of how difficult they become
-Praise Him in all situations with our speech, character and thought life.
Now that is the kind of "Legacy that lasts, and by the way makes a kingdom difference in lives!" Let's endeavor to have these said about each of us by grace through faith in the One who lives within us!
Have a great week my friends,
Pastor Doug |
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