We are all leaving a legacy whether we want to or not. The question is, are you going to be intentional about the legacy you are leaving?
Every family line carries elements of legacy worth celebrating and some elements that we would rather forget.
We can never forget what happens when Jesus attaches his name to ours!
Our legacy is being built in Jesus now, and we must be intentional about building on the foundation of Jesus’ inheritance and not what we have inherited from brokenness.
Colossians 1:12
Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
*Psalm 119:111
Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. *
We build on the testimony of Jesus in our families, not on the testimony of what sin has brought to our families in past generations.
What is the foundation you want your children to be able to return to? As parents, we provide “home base” for our children.
*Proverbs 29:17-18
Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will delight your heart. Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.*
Prophetic Vision - God-inspired picture and purpose.
Leaving a legacy for your children: Getting a God-inspired picture for them and for your family and building toward that.
Discipline: The act of creating boundaries that guide our children toward God’s vision for them.
Discipline is consistently showing love to our children by guiding them on God’s path toward freedom and maturity.
Hebrews 12:9 - 11
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Stay committed and stay courageous.
Nothing in creation is designed with the ability to self-identify. God defines the identity of what he creates.
Dads and moms are responsible for pointing their children towards God’s identity for them.
Leaving a legacy is not about perfection, it’s about consistency. What we model consistently is what our children will imitate.
Model:
• Humility
• Love
• Forgiveness
• Honesty
• Seeking the Lord
• Worship
Willingness to share your testimony with your children at the right times will lead them to the heart of Jesus and keep them connected to yours.
Questions:
In what areas have you been intentional about the legacy you are leaving to your children?
In what areas could you be more intentional about the legacy you are leaving?
Read Proverbs 29:17-18. Do you feel you have a clear picture of the God-inspired picture and purpose for your family and children?
How has your view of discipline changed, if at all, after reading this verse and understanding that discipline is meant to help guide your children into God’s plan for them?
What areas of life have you modeled well for your children? What areas could be modeled better?
Knowing that our legacy is ultimately being build on Jesus and his kingdom, what parts of your testimony can you share with your children to help them build a stronger faith and security in who Jesus is?