Introducing the Messiah

Mt. 27:25: “And all the people answered and said, ‘His blood be on us and on our children.'”

This is what the people said to Pilate when he washed his hands before them saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person [Jesus]. You see to it.”

Pilate could find no fault in Jesus because there was none.  The people took the fault upon themselves, but what struck me this morning was that they not only took the fault upon themselves, but they put it upon their children, as well.  Wow!  That’s some kind of serious burden and legacy to place upon your own children.

Back in Ps. 78, Asaph writes, “I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old, which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.”  (vs. 2-4)

What happened between the time he wrote this and the time that Jesus was standing before the people and Pilate?  Well, just because one father decides to tell his kids about the Lord doesn’t mean they all do.  We know that.  That is why people did not recognize the Messiah when He came.  He was standing right in front of them, and instead of worshiping and honoring them, they took their blood upon themselves and their own children, crucifying Him.

We have the same responsibility today that Asaph had all those years ago, and it doesn’t matter if we are a parent or not.  Jesus is going to come back one day for His bride.  We must not hide the parables and the truth about our loving Savior and Messiah from the generations around us.  We need to tell the praises of the Lord.  He is worthy!  We need to talk about His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.  He is mighty!

We can leave a wonderful legacy to the world around us.  A legacy of eternal life and reward.  There is still time to help those around us recognize the Messiah and give Him honor.  Get involved in sharing the gospel one way or another.  Don’t let someone meet their Messiah unprepared because you weren’t willing to open your mouth.  Let’s follow Asaph’s example and leave the legacy of hope they’ve been granted through grace.

Thank You, Jesus Christ, for our salvation through Your death and resurrection!  Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness through the cross!  We praise You, and You alone, our King of Kings and Lord of Lords!  Amen.

jamie

Pr. 20:7: “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.”    (Now that’s a legacy worth leaving!)

 

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My prayer journal entry for today

“The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” Pr. 20:7

Lord, help me to walk in my integrity so that You may be glorified and my children may be blessed.  

 

Month of Prayer, Day 20

Lord, I do love knowing Your Word.  I love that throughout the day, Your Word is in my mind and in my mouth.  I love how Your Word guides my steps and equips me.

Knowing that You are with me gives me strength.  Knowing Your law gives me wisdom.  Knowing that I am Yours gives me confidence.  Lord, where would I be without Your Word?  I know where I have ended up during times before when I chose to ignore Your Word and Your Holy Spirit.  Those were times of loneliness and sin that left me with much regret.

In contrast, Lord, when I look back over the times in my life when I allowed You to truly be Lord of my life, I have no regrets.  I never regret serving You.  I never regret choosing to following Your Word, or the leading of Your Holy Spirit.  I never regret trusting You, Lord.  Thank You for the peace that comes from serving You.

Lord, surrendering to You means that I truly have freedom!  There is freedom that comes from the peace of submitting to my Savior.  In light of that, Lord, Your words truly are sweet to my taste.  Your Word and Your Spirit are my treasures.  Your faithfulness is the solid foundation that keeps me upright.

Sin no longer looks good when I know that it’s fruit is loneliness, bitterness, sadness, and regret.  When I know that sin takes me away from You, Lord, I no longer want it.  I want to be safe in the arms of my Father.  I want to be in the shadow of Your wings; the apple of Your eye.

Lord, Pr. 20:7 says, “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.”  Lord, I want my children to be blessed because I chose to walk with You.  I want my children to find the same trust and security in You that I have found.

I do not want them to have to find out the hard way, as I did, so I try to tell them of Your greatness and Your faithfulness when I can.  Help me to keep Your Word on my lips, encouraging them and telling them of Your greatness.  Oh, that their ears will be open to hear.

Let me walk in integrity, Lord, and be a living example of Your love and Your might for my children.  Let their eyes be open to see.  As You guide my steps, guide theirs ever closer to You, as well.  I long that my children will know and trust and serve You.  I long for them to live in the freedom that comes from serving You.  I defy the bonds of sin that would threaten to ensnare them, in Jesus’ name.

As I meditate on Your Word today, Lord, let it drip from my tongue and taste sweeter than honey to my children, Father.  Let them long for more.

In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

How to bless your children

Pr. 20:7:  “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.”

I witnessed an amazing baptism yesterday that was a testimony to this verse.

Several years ago, a man stood at the funeral of one of his friends and gave his life to the Lord.  This “good ol’ boy” turned his back on adultery, alcoholism, you name it.  Since the day God changed his heart, his life has not been the same.  I’m proud to say he has been an active member of my church ever since.

His aims in life are to love and take care of the weak and helpless, and to tell everyone about the Lord and the Lord’s faithfulness.  He lives his life in complete faith, trusting God for his every need.  Honestly, watching his life is like watching the verses in the Bible about true faith come to life.  A 5-minute conversation with this man is really all it takes to hear about some amazing provision he has witnessed or experienced.  He is full of praise.

He is not alone is this walk.  His wife is ever by his side, supporting, praying, believing, and loving.  She is truly beautiful.  She loves the Lord her God with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength.  I can honestly say that her adornment is the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.  This couple invests their lives into everyone around them.  They walk in their integrity.

Yesterday, one of their sons was baptized along with his wife and his own young son.  3 generations now declaring that their lives belong to the Lord!  Did this happen by accident?  Not a chance.

As I watched this man’s young family declare their submission to Christ, I was caught up in the beauty of the testimony of their choices.  Had that father/grandfather not changed his life and begun to walk in his integrity and love of the Lord, who knows where that young family would have been yesterday.  Certainly God can save anyone at anytime; however, the choices of the parents of this young man doubtless pointed him and his family toward the cross.  Praise God!

As proven in this man’s life, if you are walking in your integrity with the Lord, your children will be blessed.  It is clear that this man’s children, and grandchildren have been blessed by his choices.  Maybe you don’t even have children or grandchildren.  Even if the generation behind you isn’t your flesh and blood, there are generations coming after us all.  If you’re invested into any young person’s life, your influence carries weight.

Where do your footprints lead?  Are you pointing others to Christ?  They may not even be born yet, but those who follow are counting on you.  One day you may have children and grandchildren.  Where will you have led them?  In whom will you have taught them to place their hope, trust, and faith?  Will your life and your choices cause them to be blessed?

Encouraged,

jamie