Honoring God’s authority in our lives brings blessings and honor.  In I Samuel 2:30, God proclaims that those who honor Him, He will honor.

We honor God through our obedience to His Word and action.  It’s not enough to think and ponder–our actions must match our words.  Will we honor God with our

Lifestyle

• physical: eating healthy, sleeping and resting our bodies and minds, and exercising?
• financial: keeping to a budget, giving to those in need, and teaching our children how to manage the blessings God has given them?
• spiritual:  not giving up the habit of meeting together as Christians, studying God’s Word, and worshiping through prayer and praise?
• relationships:  honoring others through sincere love and not seeking revenge when we are wronged?

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” I Corinthians 10:31

Leadership

Who are you in leadership over?  Are you praying for them, serving them, and honoring them through the strength and love of Jesus Christ?

Legacy

In John, chapter 8, Jesus is asked by the Pharisees what to do with a woman caught in the act of adultery.  As the woman was brought to the group surrounding Jesus, he bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. As the righteous leaders kept questioning him, Jesus straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus stooped down again and wrote on the ground. All the leaders walked away, and she stood a free woman.  The greatest freedom she received was from Jesus:

“Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,”Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

I want to take the artistic liberty to paint a possible picture of this woman caught in adultery.  Imagine her life story as a child. What led her to the job of prostitution, or affairs?  What legacy was she given from the generations before her?

Pastor Andrew George shared his family legacy of strong Christians who, because they were faithful to follow God’s will, his family is reaping blessings.  As he shared his grandparent’s legacy bestowed on his family, he wept.  A room filled with about 800 people became quiet and respectful of this sweet exchange.

Pastor George challenged those who do not come from a legacy of Christians to “draw a line in the sand” and be the first generation.  The Holy Spirit brought the woman in adultery to my soul work. I love the way He gives me visuals–the Spirit of the Lord is LIVING AND ACTIVE!

I envisioned her as he made that bold declaration.  No one knows what Jesus wrote.  I wish we did.  It must have been important if He decided to bend down twice with such an unusual act during a heated and controversial moment.  My soul wondered if Jesus was “drawing a line in the sand”.  Would this woman “leave her life of sin” and generational/family patterns and live her new life of freedom–leaving a legacy for the next generation?

I had closed my Bible in service when Pastor George commented on hijacking your legacy.  I quickly opened to my notes page as he challenged us that “no matter how dark or grim, let your legacy be re-written.”  Also, “Don’t hijack your legacy for a single moment of temptation.”  If addictions, depression, cynicism, a lack of love for God were your legacy and you find yourself repeating the same patterns, then choose this day whom you will serve!

Be like Joshua, who made a decision as the spiritual leader of his family to serve the Lord, despite the legacy of idol worship.

Joshua 24:14-15

“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord……choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

God directed my fingers during service to this verse as an anchor of hope to my soul.

God is calling us to be holy.