With What's Ahead

'The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. 

Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. 

My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.' 

~Psalm 119:110-112~

Heritage can be applied to property or something other then that is passed down to the preceding generations. This word pulls its roots from the French and Latin dialects of the 1620s, which translate to 'condition or state transmitted from the ancestors'. Other words associated with heritage are legacy or tradition.

The worldly context to see this in is through the children you have, or any of your extended friends and family. Anyone that carries a piece of the influence you've lent to their lives. Generally, anything linked to the past being carried into the future, long after you've died. God backs this up generously:

'Children are a heritage from the Lord, 

offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior 

are the children born in one's youth.'

~Psalm 127:3-4~

But as I've contemplated my resolutions and goals for this bright new year, I find myself looking back more and more. Heritage is, after all, the standard to which most people hold themselves to as they move forward. This is where I come from, this is the stock I'm cut from, this is what I was born for... (insert superhero pose here!)

That heritage however, is only as strong as the person holding it. Think on those that you don't have to ask what they believe. It's because of the way they live their beliefs through every minute of every day. They're not just living out their faith, but their heritage. It takes awhile to sink in (maybe even an entire lifetime), but when you ask God into your heart, you inherit an eternity of love.

You carry the authentic legacy of God (the Bible) and put it in your children's hands- to put into their children's hands and so on.

You talk about your ancestors (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) to everyone you meet and encourage them with your traditions of mimicking God's compassion and confidence in this life.

And upon your body's death, you become the bended knee and the singing tongue, alongside countless nations of your brothers and sisters (Revelation 7:9).

I don't know what more to ask for in an inheritance; especially when it's one I cannot earn. But I do know that as I carry it into this new year, I can do so with pride and boldness. Fueled by hope in my heritage in Christ Jesus!