Realize and Do Your Part –
Sharing Jesus and living out your faith is not for missionaries only.
Once upon a time, in a Christmas season not so far in the past – actually this is a true story – I fell under spiritual attack. The sting of it, however, was not what I would have expected. When God healed the pain of my past years ago, He did an awesome and complete thing.
At first, the attack made me uncomfortable. Then, it made me angry and upset. Then, I tried to figure out why.
FEAR: I was not afraid for myself. It’s true. My past no longer controls me. However, I was afraid of the harm this information could play in the lives of my children. If they were not spiritually mature enough to let Jesus be their measuring stick instead of my past, the consequences could be dire.
If you know me, you know that I do not believe in walking in fear.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
I realized that my focus was not where it needed to be. This spiritual attack had thrown me for a loop, and it had taken my eyes off Jesus. If God permitted this attack, He permitted it for a reason. I needed to pay attention to what God was doing.
Praise God! I got to see over the next few days that the eyes of my grown children are focused on Jesus! Not only that, but their comments revealed to me that they had really been paying attention over the years to my faith and the faith of others in their lives. May Jesus always rule in their hearts!
May the legacy that I leave be one based on faith in Jesus.
I say all of that to say this. You may not ever know whom you touch for Jesus or how much you make a difference in their lives, but Jesus knows.
Letting Him use you to reach others is not nearly as complicated as you might think.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:19-20
LIFE APPLICATION
The challenge is to see that you are called to serve and make a difference where you are standing. You don’t have to have a pristine past, or any great degree from a theological institute. Simply spend time in God’s Word, pray, and walk accordingly. Listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and obey. Then, freely express and live out your faith in front of those around you.
Your Big Challenge
Our three points again were: understanding what a legacy of faith is (Part 1); knowing how the legacy is handed down (Part 2); and realizing and doing your part (Part 3).
God had a plan for our Salvation. We have the privilege to share in that plan. We saw that the legacy of faith is not just your knowledge of Jesus. It’s what you leave behind because of that. It’s the difference you let God make through you to bring others to Him.
We talked about where the legacy began and how it spread through missionaries and others with the power of the Holy Spirit.
We talked about how others can be influenced – positively and negatively – by the lives of ordinary folks, and how easy it is for you to leave a legacy of faith.
It’s your choice. I’m glad my legacy will be based on faith. What legacy will you leave?