“LEGACY!”

Me-Maw Thoughts

Number 515

February 23, 2021///

“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words!”

“Children learn what they see!”

“Your actions speak so loud I cannot hear your words!”

“Actions speak louder than words!”

You have probably heard these statements many times, but have you ever thought about what they really mean?

We are told in writing that describing or showing is better than just telling.

Jesus taught with examples and stories as well as His Life!

Please take a moment with me and think of what you are showing your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, cashiers, customer service people, fellow Christians?

Four of the fruit of the Spirit are Kindness, Patients, Gentleness, and self-control!

The more of ourselves we release to the Lordship of Jesus Christ the more of these attributes we will see.

Do our actions portray: 

Patience and peace or turmoil, irritation, and impatience?

Love or hate or dislike?

Caring or ignoring?

Self-control or self-serving?

May I tell you that your descendants are those born to you or your children on down the line!  An inheritance is what possessions etc. you leave them! But a Legacy is the life you lived, how you responded to challenges, storms, good times and bad!

If you are a parent of small children, how do you respond when they are getting on every nerve you have?  When you receive bad news do you respond by falling apart or by trust in the one who died for you?  When you are passed over for the promotion because someone else is better looking or will go out for drinks with the crowd, what is your reaction?

When you are in a traffic jam or a long line or at a no-customer service counter or on a call with them, what reaction do those around you see!

Do those around you see a helpful caring individual who considers others and not just their self?   You see all of these are preaching something!

Do you want to win the world but do not read the word and teach it to your children, grandchildren and beyond?

Are you faithful to God’s house and serve in anyway you can, showing the importance of dedication and perseverance?

Watching my Daddy spend hours in the world of God, taught me the importance of the Bible and knowing what it says.  I am sure he did, but I really do not remember him telling me that the Bible would guide and lead me in the right way, but I saw that in His life.

My parent’s faithfulness to help others and consistent church attendance and participations, instilled in me a love for church and the work of the lord.  Their being faithful in taking all of us to church exposed me to missionaries and evangelist and singers and many who influenced my life for good.

As pastors, I also saw their actions to those who opposed what God wanted to do in the church and I learned that there is never a need to be ugly to people, by watching the way they handle the people who could have caused chaos!

Imitate:

: to follow as a pattern, model, or example.

: to be or appear like: RESEMBLE

: to produce a copy of: REPRODUCE

1 Peter 2:21 (KJV)
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Can we with honesty desire people to follow our ways?  May we strive to be able to truly have people follow us, as Paul requested of the people around him in I Corinthians!

1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV)
Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

What legacy are you leaving?

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Father God may each of our lives be so full of your spirit and the attributes of Jesus, that we can honestly say follow me!  In Jesus name I pray! Amen!

Let your actions and words line up!   Love, MeMaw