About ten weeks ago I was given the best Christmas present ever – I was given a grandson! As you can imagine I was over the moon, content that everyone was well and elated at the prospect of seeing him for the first time. It really was a moment! But in amongst the smiles and the much anticipated Skyping I found myself asking the question “So what’s my role as I try and relate to this brand new addition?”
While mulling this over I happened to read a Bible book called Luke and that’s when I had the gem of an insight. Chapter three was listing the ancestors of Jesus and as I read through each line I heard myself saying, “Haven’t heard of them, or them, or them. Oh I have heard of King David, but I haven’t heard of them or them” And that’s when the penny dropped!
For Jesus to come and fulfil his mission every generation before him had to have lived a life of faithfulness whether it was noticed or not in order to create the right environment for changing the world. Many of them lived quiet ordinary lives, but all the while they were building and leaving a legacy.
The thought stopped me in my tracks for a moment as I jumped from one repercussion to another in my head; to live my life in such a way that the present might impact a future generation whether I’m around to see it or not is faith indeed. But you know what... I’m in.
Another Bible book says this “...David, (a King from Ancient times*) ... served God’s purpose in his own generation ...” (Acts 13:36), only to influence the lives of many people long after he was dead and buried. That inspires me!
I don’t know about you, but this stirs me up and it’s something I want to pursue. I don’t doubt for a moment that God has used the arrival of my grandson to fan this into flame, but it’s happened in such a way that the desire to leave a legacy is fast becoming something I don’t want to keep to my immediate family. It’s too big and too awesome to be contained. I want to invest, (for the rest of my days), in something that is so God initiated amongst my friends, neighbours and community that it will roll over and act as a down payment on the purposes that God has for the future without ignoring the present.
What about you?
David Hart
Leader
(*my own addition for explanation purposes)
1 comments:
Awesome and challenging post David. As a product of this instant gratification generation, I find it so difficult to keep my eyes on the big or long term picture. I always want to see the results of my actions/prayers/obedience NOW! What a challenge it is to continue being faithful without seeing the fruit of our labour. Even after years of struggling with this it doesn't to get any easier. Lord, help me to listen and obey irrespective of whether I get to see any of the results.
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