Now is the time..... To Check Your Legacy

….I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 2 Timothy 1:5

This week when we picked up our 2 youngest grandchildren, Dan and Leah from school it was a chance to get involved in their homework. Leah’s task was to join a friend or relative in a leisure activity or pastime. She helped me with a crossword puzzle and did a good job.

Dan’s homework was to think about and discuss the word legacy. His Mum had begun the task earlier and we got to continue. When Granddad asked him the meaning of the word ‘legacy’ he was unsure so was sent off to check it out on the internet! The simple answer is ‘anything handed down from the past’. There followed a discussion in which we talked about the most important legacy parents and grandparents can leave their children and grandchildren; a legacy of faith in Jesus Christ and one of righteousness. Sadly, this is missing from so many families today.

Even when our example to our children has been a good one, it does not automatically guarantee an immediate good result. If not we should not be discouraged. Today I was reading about Manasseh, the son of King Hezekiah. His father had set him a wonderful example (2 Chronicles 29 – 32). He had become king of Judah at age 25 and reigned for 29 years. During that time he destroyed the places of pagan and idol worship and redirected the people back to worship of the one true God. He stood firm in the face of attack from the Assyrian army, and God delivered the people in answer to Hezekiah’s prayer (2 Chron 32:20) and his obedience brought peace to the whole land.

When Hezekiah died, his son Manasseh became king at the age of 12. Instead of following his father’s godly example he restored the places of pagan worship, he practiced divination, consulted spiritists and mediums and even set up a carved image in the temple of God. 2 Chronicles 33:9 tells us that "Manasseh did more evil than the pagan nations before had done." Amazingly discouraging…….BUT GOD….!

If you read chapter 33 you will see that God allowed Manasseh to be captured by the Assyrians and he was led away a prisoner by a ring through his nose and bound in bronze chains. He was brought low so that he would feel enough pain to cry out to God for help, which he did. God was then able to have him released with a new understanding of the love, mercy and power of God. “Manasseh had finally realized that the Lord alone is God”. (2 Chron 33:13). Do read the story!

It is our privilege and our duty to pray for our children and grand-children that they may know the one true God and worship and serve only him so they may know God’s peace and protection always. It may not happen right away but God is faithful to answer these prayers as he did for Hezekiah.

Prayer: Merciful God, help me to set a godly example to my family and to pray for their salvation always. Have mercy on them and lead them into your kingdom of righteousness and peace. Amen