Today my husband and I attended the funeral of a dear friend's father. It was a testament to the legacy of a man who loved God, loved His family and gave of himself sacrificially throughout his lifetime. It was heartwarming to hear the family sing together and testify of the wonderful example left for them in and through the life of this man they knew as husband, father and grandfather.
One of the definitions of the word "legacy" in the dictionary is "anything received from or passed on by an ancestor, predecessor or earlier era". It was obvious this man had left behind a wealth far greater than any dollar sign could measure. You could also tell the family was proud to carry this legacy on to future generations.
Later, as we spent time with our grandchildren, it made me consider what kind of legacy I was now gathering and developing for them to treasure after my passing. Above all, my prayer would be they inherit my love for the Lord. As they watch my life, I would hope they would see the fruit of the Spirit at work in my life to the extent it would reflect into theirs.
At the same time, seeing this family together brought memories of those in my family who have gone on before. It made me thankful for the rich heritage I was blessed with, which, in time, can be passed on to my family.
According to Acts 17:26, God made every nation of men from one man to eventually inhabit the earth. It says He determined the times set for us and even the exact places where we would live. Each of us, therefore, has been given a space of time to reach out to a certain sphere of influence. What we do during this space of time determines what we will have to leave behind as a legacy.
The very next verse tells us God's reasoning for doing things this way. He did it so we would "seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us". Make it a point this very day to take time for seeking, reaching and finding. In doing so, you will be building up your own legacy to one day pass on.
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"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates."
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