heritage...

as i sit musing over my pastor's sermon this morning i am so encouraged by the charge he gave to the older generation to spur on the generations coming after them in the gospel - in the truth of God's word. the text was Genesis 50, the death of Joseph. Joseph's last words and last instructions to his family were to cling to the covenant promise that God would deliver the people of Israel up out of Egypt and into the promised land. Joseph's final words were about God and reminding his people of God's covenant promises. it wasn't about Joseph or about his life or about his experiences. Joseph's last words were all about his God and what He is doing.
i have been thinking a lot about heritage lately. a senior saint in our church body went to be with the Lord this week and while she will be greatly missed, her family is so thankful that she gets to be with Jesus now. her legacy and her life speak volumes to those around her about what it means to leave a heritage. she communicated the truth of God's word through her life's work. she encouraged the younger generations with the gospel. what a blessing to know someone who, while not perfectly, lived in such a way that was a testimony to all those around her.
i am challenged myself to see where i might be able to encourage the generations after me with the truth of God, it's not simply a task for the senior saints. and while there are many opportunities i can think of to do this work, i am reminded of something the Lord has been hammering into me the last few months over and over again - my children ARE my mission field. my son (and his future brothers and sisters) is who God has given me to preach the gospel to day in and day out. they are the souls that i have been given to impact and to remind everyday of God's redeeming work. and like Joseph, who on his deathbed was speaking of God's covenant with his people and His coming salvation from slavery, my task is not to talk about myself or my experiences. but i am to preach God to my children and all that He has done and will do.
what a sweet reminder to me yet again that this life is NOT about me! God is so much bigger and His work is so much grander than i could ever imagine. but i am called to be faithful to point those who come after me back to God and what He has promised. and i pray that on my deathbed it would be all about God and not about me. what a high task we have!

And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Gen. 50:24