Daily Devotion 7/7/10

Psalm 78
4We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. 5For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, 6That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, 7That they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments

What Impact and Legacy are You Leaving?
This Psalm is sometimes referred to as the grandparents Psalm, but I like either the “Great-Grandparent Psalm” or the “Legacy Psalm”. There is a purpose for life, one that far exceeds this present life.
First, look at the message:

People should be taught to praise the Lord. Verse four makes it very clear, don’t conceal God’s works, share them as praises for who He is and what He has done. His works are wondrous and He has strength. God should always be first praised for who He is and then for what He has done.

One of His works, was to establish a nation out of one man, Abraham, through him and his lineage. God eventually used Jacob as the man who would father a nation of people when God changed his name to Israel. God established a testimony, a memory, a story of how He worked in mighty ways to protect His chosen people so they could remain a nation. He appointed or sent the law to Israel with all of the promises of covenants and redemption, of a future kingdom and a ruler who would come to free the Jews. God did all of that!

Then he set in motion a system so that these deeds would be remembered for generations. He established the home to teach what His message is. He commanded the fathers to teach their children. This responsibility falls on the fathers, but is not limited to them. Mothers play a significant role in training children.

But notice that the message was supposed to be carried on by the children to their children, a generation to come even children yet to be born. So the father’s teaching will impact his grandchildren.

But it goes further! They children of the grandchildren are to be taught as well. That means that a person should have a direct impact on 4 generations of his family. Not only does he need to know the message, but he is to instill that message into his children and if possible his grandchildren so that they in turn can instill the message into future generations.

The message is simple (from verse seven): Don’t forget who God is, put your trust in Him and obey. Even if you are not a firsthand witness of the miracles of God, learn the message.

The funny thing about legacies is that you always leave one, regardless of whether or not you purposefully chose to. The positive side is you can begin choosing your legacy now by what choices you make and determine to make. Even if you have no children or are a child yourself, you can begin now to have a lasting impact for generations to come.

How?

Learn the message so well that you live it…..then share it with those who need to hear it!