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| Photo by Peggy Blann Phifer |
Protect and Ensure Your Legacy
by Paula Mowrey
“But if serving the Lord seems
undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will
serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15
Most Christians
have studied this verse through a Sunday school class or through a sermon. Some
even have that last line as plaques in their homes. Joshua makes it clear to
the nation that he and his household will serve God. He places before the
people a choice to follow in his footsteps or stray back to some of their
ancestors’ old ways.
Now on this day it
is recorded that the people agreed with Joshua wholeheartedly to follow God
alone. I’m sure they had good intentions. But just two page turns in my Bible are
some of the saddest words I’ve read.
“Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the
Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. And they buried him in the land of
his inheritance, at Timnath Heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of
Mount Gaash. After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers,
another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for
Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the
Baals.” Judges 2:8-11
What? What
happened to their promise? I understand some would argue that this was the next
generation. But why didn’t they train up their children the way they had been
instructed to?
God gave strict
and explicit instructions on how parents were to pass on this Godly legacy.
They were to always have God and His commands before them, talking about them
when they ate or when they were walking along.
That generation
failed to pass along their rich legacy. Honestly, the thought makes me shiver.
Doesn’t this prove that we are only one generation away from not knowing God or
following His ways?
The responsibility
rests on those of us who know God and His commands to pass this along to our
children and those we have influence over. This has to be pointed and
intentional. We can’t just be flippant, thinking they’ll catch on. This transmission
is much too important for that.
Prayer: Lord, I choose, as Joshua on
that day, to serve You, the one true God. I choose to follow Your commands as
outlined in Your Word. And I will make every effort to ensure that
those around me know about this spiritual heritage, so no one might say that a
generation arose who didn’t know You. Amen.
Currently, I am
doing a study of Godly legacy and how I might pass it on my blog. Please join
me in this important topic. www.paulamowery.blogspot.com
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| Paula Mowrey |
Paula is a
pastor’s wife, mom to a college student, author, acquiring editor, and speaker.
No matter the hat she wears, she strives to honor God’s plan even if it means
going out on a limb and leaving comfort zones. Reviewers have characterized her
writing as “thundering with emotion.” Her book, Be The Blessing, won the 2014
Selah Award in the novella category. Paula enjoys reading and reviewing
Christian fiction, writing Christian romance and devotionals, and helping other
authors realize their dream of publication.
Learn more
about Paula and find other places to link with her on her blog at www.paulamowery.blogspot.com
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