LEGACY
Psalm 44:1 – “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days, in days of old.”
This verse highlights the importance of oral tradition passed down to the children. The phrase, “Our fathers have told us, the deeds You did in their days,” is one that must be repeated today to our children. We must tell our children what God has done before they were ever born. There are many benefits, but here are a few:
It Provides Roots. Our kids need a legacy. They need to know they are part of a continuing story. Knowing they have roots will provide stability and strength when they face difficult times.
It Provides Purpose. A mother once shared with me her narrow escape from drowning as a teenager. I asked her if she had ever shared that story with her kids. She said, “No.” I encouraged her to do so. Her children needed to know that mommy was spared and one of the reasons was to be able to bring them into the world.
It Provides a Reservoir of Faith. Stories of God’s deliverance and faithfulness create a pool of faith to draw from. At some point your children will probably say, “God, you did it for my dad and You can do it for me!” How many times have we done the same thing using stories in the Bible?
It Provides Perspective. Our children need to know that the world does not revolve around them and that they are part of a larger picture. Seeing themselves as part of the mosaic of history and not the mosaic itself is healthy and will also help them to connect the dots from generation to generation.
There are many others but space will not allow. Think through today’s devotional and why not tell part of the story tonight with your family and then give thanks to God for His faithfulness?