The Blessing of a Godly Heritage

Psalm 61:5b: "(O God) you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name."

When recently I was reading this passage, I stopped to reflect upon the impact that one's childhood experiences have on his adult character development. I thought about those to whom I have counseled over a decade of ministry, and I thought introspectively of my own life and how those people in my early years impacted who I am today (some good and some not so good). Then I concluded that one's early setting and family of origin have a tremendous impact upon whom one becomes.

We inhabit the blessings (and the curses) of those who influenced our early lives. For some, the blessings of security, stability, and godliness that were modeled for us by our parents and friends will continue to shower upon us in years to come. These blessings may be made manifest in our ability to love and be loved, to live principally-driven lives, and to desire an intimate fellowship with Christ. Others will war throughout life with the consequences of a familial environment lived in performance-based, conditional love with a lack of affirmation and security as well as the absence of Godly commitment. These manifestations may take the form of insecurities or a lack of integrity or an apathy toward God Himself.

Still, we must remember that no one has to live the carbon-copy life of what was modeled for him as a child. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can rise above the experiences of the past to become the people that God ultimately desires for us to be. The ideal of our Lord is for us to be people who are committed to Him, so that by our lives of integrity, we might be a blessing to those who come after us. God is seeking future generations who will rise up and give Him glory (see Malachi 2:15). This necessitates that previous generations provide the legacy that will demonstrate love, integrity, and godliness. Listen to the words of the following Psalm of David to hear what each generation's responsibility is:

Psalm 145:4-7: "One generation will commend your works (O God) to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness."

Let us break the patterns of dysfunction that perhaps were modeled for us as children by surrendering our lives wholly to the Lord and following obediently His commands and His principles. Although we may continue to struggle with the consequences of our early lives, we can through the power of the Holy Spirit rise above those experiences to bless those who come after us. Future generations yearn for such blessings as these!