Legacies!

Legacies!

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

Proverbs 20:7 KJV

Context:

This is the book of one-liners, where each line is a message on its own. Today's verse is taken from a passage that speaks to the value of hard work, respect, respect to authority and careful consideration of life and decisions. It makes no sense to be given to rash and abrasive behaviour; it is a sign of maturity and growth that I am not given to frequent outbursts of anger and rage. How is my heart? Is it a place where God dwells? Is it a place where God has been able to impact with his Word and Presence, and where his grace and mercy have done a great work in? 

Message and Response:

Who is a just man? It is not one who earns commendation from God on the strength of personal labour or striving, but from the work of God done in his heart and manifesting in his daily life. Man focuses on the external, which is why he can be easily deceived. God focuses on the inside, which is why he is not moved by the outside. Which one am I spending time on to develop: the inner man of the heart or the external man of the flesh given to pretence and hypocrisy? 

Being just is an attribute of God given to men who are full surrendered to him. A just man is so defined by God, and the walk of that man will reflect his standing with God. Until I have learnt how to stand with God, it is difficult to stand before men to declare God's mind. What would I be declaring to men if God does not consider me as his own? 

It is important to note that the just man is said to walk in his integrity. There is really no place for corporate coverage when it comes to walking in God's righteousness. You cannot walk on my behalf, just as I cannot walk on your behalf. My life can show you a few lessons, and you emulate them, you are blessed by God but you cannot pass on your responsibility to walk with God to anyone else. 

It must also be noted that my walk also has an impact beyond my generation. We focus so much on what we can get out of life that we forget to ensure that the children coming after us have lessons to learn. We get caught up in the daily grind of life that we forget to be examples that are worthy of emulation. Today's extract says that for the just man, his children are blessed after him. When you look at some children who seem to be succeeding even though they do not seem to rever God, it could be that the parents had laid the foundations for the  success of their children by their own just ways. It will be pointless to envy such people, except to also learn the right lessons and take the necessary steps. And in the event that I am tempted to think that I can get away with relying on my own parents' walk with God alone, what legacies will I be leaving for my own children coming after me? If my own parents showed me the path of life, is it not expected of me to also strive to show my own children the way of the Lord too? 

Today's extract is true all the way down: just as it applies to my parents, so does it apply to me too. As I enjoy the favour and blessings that come from the worthy examples laid down by my own parents, I ask God for grace to also lay down the right examples for the children coming after me. It is not just about my biological children but every life that God will give me grace to impact. I cannot claim ignorance of the will of God as an excuse why I could not teach my children about God. I have access to the Word of God. I have access to opportunities for fellowship and growth. 

The benefits of knowing God far outweigh the pains, and the eternal reward of a life given to God make the experience worth it. His time of favour is here.