“Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you
know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as
long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know
that the putting off of my body will be soon…And I will make every effort so
that after my departure you may be able to at any time recall these things.”
2 Peter 1:12-15
Dearest Believer,
When we contemplate our lives, our purpose…really contemplate it, what
comes to mind? We long to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. We live
it to honor our Lord. And then, we die and live in eternal joy with Him. And
of those we leave behind? What of them? Surely, when we truly think of our
life’s purpose, we don’t just think of ourselves as a sole island, nor should
we. We are called to love God and to love others. To serve God and to
serve others. In our families, we are to teach and train our children in the
ways of God (Deut. 11:18-22, Prov. 22:6). We are commanded to “tell the
next generation of the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, His power and the
wonders He has done… So the next generation would know them, even the
children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children”(Psalm
78;4,6). In this, we have a responsibility as God’s people and His
ambassadors to leave a legacy. Like the apostle Peter, we teach, we
remind, and we live accordingly, so that after we are gone, our loved ones,
“may at any time recall these things.” If you read earlier in the passage, we
read that Peter is speaking of the qualities of faith, virtue, knowledge,
self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. He is
reminding his readers about their calling and election. God did not intend
our faith to be kept private, but to share it.
How then can we leave a God-centered legacy?
1.Read the Word
“Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the
end.” Psalm 119:33
“But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but
by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matt. 4:4
“The Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall
meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do
according to all that is written in it. For then it will make your way
prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8
As believers, we must start here. God’s Word is the foundational piece to
knowing God. And we cannot love God and share God’s love, without first
knowing God. It is through the diligent reading, studying and meditating of
His Word, that we can know what God allows us to know about His Being.
And when we know Him, as much as our human minds can, we cannot
possibly keep the gift to ourselves. We teach, we guide, we correct,
according to His Word. (2 Tim.3:16-17).
2. Praise
“I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God
while I have being.” Psalm 104:33
“One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare
Your mighty acts.” Psalm 145
“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Heb. 12:15
His praise should continually be on our lips. For what He has done, what
He is doing and what He will continue to do for His people.
We are to proclaim His goodness and faithfulness to us to the next generation. That
they may be filled with the stories of God’s faithfulness to their parents and
grandparents and therefore nurture a legacy of gratitude with every passing
generation.
3. Pray
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”
Col. 4:2
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1
Thess. 5:16-18
“Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to
be created may praise the Lord…” Ps.102:18
Being an example of prayerfulness and seeking God shows the next
generation that our heartfelt desire is to commune with our personal God.
In addition, praying with our children, no matter how young or old they may
be, communicates your love for their souls. Our children need to hear our
pleading prayers to God for them and for others.
4. Integrity
“The righteous who walks in his integrity- blessed are his children
after him!’ Prov. 20:7
“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give
me an undivided heart that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11
‘Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in
your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot
be condemned…” Titus 2:7-8
We must walk our talk and live a life that matches what we teach. Our
children are always watching the unity of our speech with our behaviors.
We must do our utmost to live a life of integrity with God’s help. And when
we fail, to confess that sin.
5. Persistence/Faithfulness
“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were
taught …” 2 Thess. 2:15
“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great
reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have
done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Heb.
10:35-36
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always
abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor
is not in vain.” 1 Cor. 15:58
We will have ups and downs in our Christian walk. But we must keep
running in the race for the blessed crown. We must endure through the
trials, cling to Christ, and finish “being strengthened with all power
according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and
patience…”(Col. 1:11).
May our prayer be like the psalmist in Psalm 71, “O God, from my youth
you have taught me; and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to
old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your
might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”
“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart
and in your soul…You shall teach them to your children…that
your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the
land that the LORD swore to your father to give them, as long
the heavens are above the earth.” Deut. 11:18-21
May we be faithful and careful to do what the Lord has commanded, that
we may one day say, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children
are walking in the truth.” (3 John 4).
The Lord be with you,
Bianca
