God-Centered Environment
1 Chron 4:10, Jabez: ‘Oh that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain. And God granted what he asked.’ It’s not just leaving an inheritance of money, property, etc., these don’t last! Need to leave a spiritual legacy, a spiritual inheritance that will endure, with eternal value. God has given us spiritual values, standards, principles, etc. Need to pass to others! 1 Cor. 9:25, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” We pass the baton to those coming after us, make sure they get a firm grip on it, and do not drop it! Ask yourself about your legacy: Centered on money, power, prestige, etc? Run with purpose, run to win! God has been working in your life, pass on the lessons learned! Especially to your family, children, grandchildren, relatives, friends, etc. If you have failed, there is still time! Remember: Psalm 127:3: ‘children are a heritage from the LORD…’
- Ephesians 6:4, ‘Fathers, do not exasperate your children; but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.’
- 1 Samuel 1:27-28 (Hannah): ‘I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life, he will be given over to the Lord.’
My parents used our home to make sure we were taught more about God, open house, fun, etc. Mum and Dad were active in church. They worked hard to provide for us. Believed it important to place God’s Word in their Children’s lives as well as in the lives of others.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-9, ‘These commandments that I give 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…’
Make it a priority to train, develop and encourage children in God’s ways. Regularly have family prayer and devotions. Share God’s Word as part of everyday life. Make an effort!
- Prov. 22:6, ‘Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.’
Leave a spiritual legacy for your children, grandchildren, relatives, friends, etc.
- Psalms 127:3: ‘children are a heritage from the LORD…’ Failed?
- Still time: ‘with God all things are possible!’
Alongside my immediate and extended family, I will always appreciate the blessing the church family has on my developing Christian life. By the way, I have discovered no perfect church family! Church arranged opportunities for nurture and teaching using our spiritual gifts including preaching. As a teenager, I went into the courtyards of tenements (blocks of apartments) in Ayr, Scotland as well as villages nearby. We would call on those who were listening (or at least we thought they were) to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. For me, this was an important part of my training which continues from my youth to the present! Leaving a meaningful spiritual legacy requires priorities that allow the Holy Spirit to exalt Christ in our lives.
- Henry Blackaby: ‘He calls you to a relationship where He is Lord–where you are willing to do and be anything He chooses. If you will respond to Him as Lord, He may lead you to do and be things you would have never dreamed of.’ Are we ready for this?
Worship Together:
- Deuteronomy 12:1, ‘in the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess…’ 12, ‘there rejoice before the Lord your God, you, your sons and daughters…’
Encourage worship of God together (rejoice, sing, pray, study, etc.) in all aspects of life whether at home, work, leisure and in worship with God’s People. Make worship of God to be joyful and purposeful. Not dreaded or boring. Prepare for worship, talk about it, etc. Don’t devalue the experience or its importance by our attitude, conversation, behavior.
- Hebrews 10:25, ‘Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.’
Allow family and others to see and reflect on how you value times of worship by how you remove obstacles that prevent you worshipping with God’s people. Be aware also of becoming addicted to media, (incl. social media) internet, etc., which can lead us into idolatry, worshiping gods of technology. Lead by example.
- Philippians 4:8, ‘Whatsoever is true. whatsoever is just, whatsoever is pure, whatsoever is lovely, whatsoever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.’ (to be continued…)
Your friend and Pastor,
Jim