Leaving a Legacy

I am sorry to be so late with this post. Actually, this post should be before Amy's, but I just could not get it to you any sooner. I too was very distressed by the reading of Judges and very glad to be through it. I was so very saddened as I read Chap 2 verse 10, "After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things He had done for Israel." After all we've read about Moses and Joshua and God's mighty acts on behalf of His people, it just seems almost unbelievable that they would so quickly turn away from the LORD. As long as God's people had responsible leaders, good instructions and a fresh remembrance of the great things God did for them, corruption was restrained among the people. However, as soon as there were no more descendants to lead them and help them, the new generation failed to recognize and confess God as their LORD or to choose to bring back to their mind the great stories told them by their parents of God's great power on their behalf. I can't help but wonder about the tremendous responsibility that the generation who entered into Canaan had to pass on their faith to their children. I discovered 3 very important instructions that were passed on to the Promised Land generation among God's many instructions given to Moses. The first reminds the Israelites NOT TO FORGET the LORD after they settled in the land and began to prosper. (Deut. 8:6,11-14) The second is found in Deut. 11:14-21 where that generation was instructed to teach their children all God's Word that He had shared with Moses, talking about it as they went about their daily routine of life. I believe the 3rd instruction proved to be key in the downfall of God's people. They were repeatedly instructed to completely destroy their enemies living in the land. (Deut. 20:16-18) This important instruction was given to protect God's people from being drawn into the worship of idols. Had the generation who had entered Canaan worked so hard to settle the land and become prosperous that they failed to constantly tell their children the powerful, wonderful stories of God's awesome acts on their behalf accomplished by His mighty hand and outstretched arm? What about this generation? Do we work so hard to get ahead and become prosperous in this world that we ignore our responsibility to share the truths about God and His Word with our children? Have you ever thought about what you will leave behind when you die - not possessions - what kind of spiritual heritage you will leave your children? Are you helping your children to understand who God is and what the Scriptures say their spiritual legacy is? Even though you cannot pass on your relationship and experience with God, you can pass on your faith. You can leave your sense of moral values. Of course, our children are responsible for their decisions and must face the consequences of those decisions, but is our responsibility to pass on our understanding of the principles of God's Word that have guided us in our life's decisions. I believe that if you love God and practice the principles of Scripture, love your children and listen to them, take advantage of the "teachable moments", then you will leave them a faith that will sustain them through the difficult trials of life. Concerning the 3rd instruction, we know from Judges Chap. 1 that the generation that pushed into Canaan failed to completely drive out or destroy their enemies living in the land. By failing to do so, they were setting themselves and their children up to turn their backs on God and turn instead to the worship of idols. Do you drive out the enemies in your children's lives and in your home? I believe the most important discipline of a parent is to pray for their children until their final breath. We should pray diligently and fervently that our children and grandchildren will trust Jesus as their Savior, follow Him all the days of their lives, and be living witnesses of His presence in their lives. Pray God's Word over your children as they sleep and declare out loud God's Word through your home and into every room. Ask God for specific Scriptures to pray for your children. Jesus drove the enemy away with the declaration of God's Word (after having memorized it as a child). One of His declarations was a quote from Deut. 8:3, "People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matt. 4:4 NLT. God's Word is one of the most powerful weapons we have against satan, our enemy. I believe the key to such tremendous responsibility can be found in Josh. 23:8,10-11 when Joshua gives his final words to the generation entering the Promised Land. These verses tell us to:"cling tightly to the LORD your God"; "the LORD your God fights for you, just as He has promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your God." I pray for you, moms and grandmas!