Promised Heritage

The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, "Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you." So Abram went to live near the great trees of Mamre at Hebron, where he pitched his tents. There he built an altar to the LORD. (Genesis 13:14-18 NIV)

Abram was given another promise that day.  He was promised a legacy…a heritage.  The LORD was telling him that he would have offspring.  He was telling Abram that those offspring would be great in number.  He was telling him that they would have a large land just for them.

Did you know that some of God’s promises to us include our heritage as well?  When we choose to walk together with God, that walk is built into our children and our children’s children.  It becomes our legacy – a heritage that lives on beyond our time in this life.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Deuteronomy 5:9-10 NIV)

Even if we never have marriage or children as a part of this life, we can still pass on a legacy to the next generation.  Teaching in Sunday School, small groups, children’s ministry, youth ministry, and even full-time vocational ministry can build a heritage that becomes a legacy that outlasts us.

So, how about you? What are you building into the next generation?  Do you empower others to walk together with God?