Day: July 16, 2021

Posted in Journal

Realizing My Legacy

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Today my mom and I talked about the church I first remembered attending as a little girl—Calvary Baptist Church in Brunswick, GA. She took me to their FB page and flipped through pictures they had listed as Memories. And there it was. What she wanted me to see.

My Daddy! A picture of my daddy with some boys he taught in what was known as RA’s or Royal Ambassadors. They looked to be on a camping trip or a day trip with several groups of boys. Wow! 

The picture above is the only photograph I know of with my Daddy involved in ministry. I have many images in my mind and heart, but this photo reminds me of his heart and who he was. He hadn’t been saved long, but he was doing what he could for Jesus. He would grow in his walk with the Lord, surrender his life to the ministry, plant missions on the Indian Reservations on the islands in the Puget Sound of Washington State, and then later pastor two churches – one in Burlington, WA and one in Wise, NC.

This picture reminds me of a man I loved with my whole heart and grieved over for decades. If you know me, you know a lot about my daddy. Here are some things that come to mind.

-My love of the Word and studying the Bible came from sitting in his office and watching him study; from reading his handwritten notes in writing only a few of us could read.
-My love of serving came first because every time we had a visitor at the pastorium, he allowed me to make and bring them coffee. At the time, I thought coffee smelled so bad, but I loved being able to help, and often they would let me stay and visit (but I have to be quiet unless spoken to).
-My love for the elderly came because he took me into nursing homes every Sunday to visit as he preached there.
-My love for prayer came because he had us on our knees praying every morning and every night. No excuses!
-My reverence for the House of God came because we cleaned a large church while Dad attended college for his ministry degree. He had a schedule of chores for each of us every day. We did them faithfully and to his standard and with great reverence. No playing around in the church or cutting corners. Did it matter that we were young teenagers? No, it didn’t. If you have no reverence for the House of God, take some time and clean it. God will bless you mightily as He did me.
-My love for missions, missionaries, and church planters came because we went on to those Reservations with my Dad and helped him plant the missions. I taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School when honestly, I was a child myself.
-My love for hurting people came because my daddy brought people home for breakfast that he found in ditches and sleeping on benches. He went to the highways and byways.

Oh, this doesn’t even touch the surface. I could go on and on…

When my dad died, there was a part of me that the enemy tried to put to death with him—my legacy. I have looked at ministry families and seen their legacies, and wondered what about mine. Dad died, and my brother grabbed the legacy and carried on. Mike is a mighty man of God. I have asked God why the enemy was allowed to steal mine. Well…today I saw my Dad’s picture. Tangible evidence of his beginnings, and I know how far God took my dad and honestly took all of us with him because our family was a team. My dad never did much ministry that we weren’t all very much a part of.

In this picture, I see my Dad, and I see my legacy. And do you know what I learned about myself from it? I realized I am already living it and have been. What’s more I am working toward leaving one myself. Thanks, Dad, for all you gave me and all you left me with. Thank You, Jesus, and mom for blessing me so much today.

The Words of the LORD are Pure Words

1 Chronicles 22:1–23:32; Romans 3:9-31; Psalm 12:1-8; Proverbs 19:13-14

The Words of the LORD are Pure Words
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. – Psalm 12:6

There is None that Doeth Good, No, Not One
What then? are we [Jews] better than they? [Gentiles] No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. – Romans 3:9-12

The children of Israel believed the law that God gave to Moses was the way to perfection. If a person could obey all of God’s laws, then they could be righteous before God. The problem was that no one could abide by all of God’s laws. So, Paul revealed the truth that – no man is perfect. No, not one. No Jew or Gentile. But God is perfect, and God is perfectly righteous.

By the Law is the Knowledge of Sin
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. – Romans 3:20

For no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in His sight by [trying to do] the works of the Law. For through the Law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but provides no remedy for sin]. – Romans 3:20 AMP

We are righteous because we do the “deeds of the law.” The law, however reveals our sin and makes us aware of it.

Unto All and Upon All Them That Believe
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. – Romans 3:21-26

No one can achieve perfection before God on their own. We need God and become perfect through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the Cross in our place. He took our sins and imperfections and paid the price of them on the Cross, giving us His righteousness – His perfection…that we might stand pure before the Lord.

When I think about His sacrifice, I am reminded of the verse in Philippians 2:12 where Paul writes – work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Every sin that I committed was placed on Jesus on that cross. Jesus never sinned – I did. Every sin that I committed. But also, the sins of this day were placed on Jesus on that cross. How much then should I consider my sin and mourn for my sin and repent for my sin? He paid the price that we would stand blameless. Philippians 12:13 then reminds us of the truth in our Scripture passages today, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure. We can do nothing. He has done everything.

In light of all that, am I working out my salvation that He might have the reward for His suffering? Am I taking His sacrifice for granted?

Oh, Father, I come before You and thank You for sending Your Son to die for me. Thank You, Jesus, for paying the price for me. Help me, Lord, to always mourn over my sin, repent of my sin, and then to leave it at the cross with a thankful heart for all You have done…and then help me, Holy Ghost, to always remember the sacrifice and empower me today to “go and sin no more.” I love You, and I ask all of this in Jesus’ Holy and precious Name. Amen!

The House Builded for the LORD Must Be Exceeding Magnifical
And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death. Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel. And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God: but the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight. Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days. He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever. Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee. Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God. Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. – 1 Chronicles 22:5-13

Set Your Heart and Your Soul to Seek the LORD
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD. – 1 Chronicles 22:19

Stand Every Morning to Thank and Praise the LORD
and to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even. – 1 Chronicles 23:30

A Prudent Wife is From the Lord
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. – Proverbs 19:14

Prudent – wise or judicious in practical affairs; discreet; sober; careful in providing for the future