Have you ever thought about how you want to be remembered?
Does your faith shape your choice of legacy?
We could be talking about end-of-life situations, but as believers we also should consider how we leave the daily situations we are in and the people with whom we interact.
Our faith affects our thoughts, words, and deeds. Out of hearts filled with love, reverence, and gratitude, our desire should be to please God, even though the outcome may fall short. We read in Hebrews 11:6 that “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (NIV).
As Christians, we believe that there is one God. “Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder!” (James 2:19 NIV). But we come before the holy God through Jesus, our Savior, and we must surrender to him as our Lord. His presence with us, and all that results, is our reward – for now and eternity! In light of that, do we keep our hearts sensitive and pliable for his work in us and through us?
Under the lordship of Jesus, do we radiate peace and joy as we go about our day, because of the hope we have? When things are going smoothly and others are pleasant, these attributes are more easily shown. Even so, if we are in a bubble of our own happiness or agenda, we may miss another’s presence or need. Instead, we can offer encouragement by reflecting God’s love and goodness to others. We may be the one God chooses to use in a particular person’s life at a particular time of need, which is not even known to us. Being attentive to the Holy Spirit’s leading allows us to leave an impact of God’s blessing on others’ lives.
Do we consider how God can be glorified in a situation or how we can feel justified? In a moment of emotional frenzy, we often have a knee-jerk reaction. Defending our pride is often our first choice, but as children of God we should be thinking of how to honor our Heavenly Father. As we set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-2) and spend time in God’s presence – seeking his truth and love – his desires become ours. “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 ESV, letter D in Keep on Track). This even extends to the impact we leave on others as we reflect his goodness. Being “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” (James 1:19b NIV, letter Q in Do LAPS! Volume 2) is valuable advice as we seek to leave an impression of God’s kindness and mercy.
After we have walked away from a person or situation, whose footprints are seen – the Lord’s or our own? May we leave an impact that shows the God of our faith.
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