God has saved us by his power, through is son, and for his glory. What a reason to rejoice! And as the redeemed, living for the glory of God, we are made holy. Holy means to be ‘set apart for the purposes of God.’ This doesn’t mean removed from the world, but rather set apart for God amongst the world. Knowing fully who we are, our conduct should be that of a people that reflect the mercies and glory of our great God so that all of those around us would see him and know him. By "preparing our minds for action" and "being sober-minded," we are able to “hope fully on the grace that will be brought to [us] at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

There is a myriad of things that, whether intentionally or not, distract us from embracing our true identity in Christ. But we live under the immensely joyous reality that all those who are in Christ Jesus have been chosen by God the Father. And he who has called us to him will also sustain us. This is the joy Peter is exhorting over the ‘elect exiles’ of 1st Peter.


So when we fail, just like Peter did, we have the utmost confidence that God is for us and will help us endure. We do not have to fret or fear when those around us persecute us, revile us, slander us, or exclude us. Our citizenship in his Kingdom through the atonement found in Jesus is what we cling to. With this joy, we are equipped to live in a way that reflects the goodness and glory of God and show and share the gospel of grace to all around us.

As children of God, we are all called to one thing, purpose, and person; Jesus. We are called to live our lives for the glory of Christ. Therefore, we are all called to Jesus, but He sends us differently according to His will.

Here are a few questions to evaluate in respect to what God has sent you to do: 1. Do you have a long-term vision for what God has sent you to do? 2. Do you find meaning, value, purpose in where you already are and what you are already doing? 3. Do you view adversity and opposition as confirmation? 4. Do you expect other’s to facilitate God’s sending in your life?

No matter who we are, this life brings hardships, struggles, and pains. This difficulty does not hide from those who know and love Jesus: doubt, fear, and uncertainty have their ways of creeping in and haunting us, shaking our confidence and certainty. We must learn, in every circumstance, the practice, discipline, and joy of clinging to Jesus. As we grow closer to Him, we learn to wrestle honestly with our problems, to behold him in all of his beauty, and to wait expectantly for his movement.

What does it mean to be blessed? The word blessed comes from the Old English word for blood. Blessed is a word to describe something or someone that has been marked or consecrated with blood. Therefore, if you have been marked by the blood of the Lamb of God, then you are blessed. A mark of the blessed person is that they delight in and meditate on Scripture. If you are called blessed then your relationship with God's word should be examined.

As we conclude our 'Legacy' series we are reminded of some of the ways we can leave a legacy. While aimed at parents, ‘Legacy’ was not just a series for parents. It was a series for all within the church who are serious about God’s call to consign a generational legacy that will be a blessing to those who follow.

So what will your legacy be?

Genesis tells us that after God worked, he rested. He created an intentional stopping point to be attentive to and acknowledge His created and finished work. Do you rest? Is there margin in your life to reflect and acknowledge the work God has done in your life? Our search for artificial rest actually causes more stress, keeps us out of community, and drives us further from true rest in Jesus. Find margin, stop doing all the things, and enjoy Jesus.

What is your gut reaction when you hear the word 'discipline'? Do you cringe and hide? Do you think, 'what's discipline'? Or do you perhaps feel something in between? Discipline is about shepherding the hearts and souls of others for the glory of God. Just as our Heavenly Father disciplines us because he loves us, we are to discipline our children and those who come after us because we love them and for God's glory. This week we dissect what the Bible says about discipline and how we were designed for it.

A legacy of faithfulness means that those who come after us will know eternal joy in Jesus. Your faithfulness today means that joy is experienced now; we don't have to wait for Heaven because Jesus is here with us today. Our faith in Jesus produces an everlasting joy. The Bible tells us that every meaningful, substantial, and durable joy-producing enterprise is never obtained by taking short-cuts. When you short-cut your faith, you short-cut your joy. And joy requires pain, conviction, and dependence. It may not be the easy road, but it is the faithful one. Every parenting and life endeavor we encounter forces us to make a choice, the faithful one or the short-cut. Which legacy will you leave?

The legacy of being present with those we love is not contingent on our capacity or ability to do so, but on our willingness to be ambitious for family and community and not solely for our own desires and dreams. Just as God is present with us through our betrayals, accusations, denials, and eventual renewals, we too must learn the art and discipline of being emotionally and physically present with our loved ones through good times and hard seasons. God with us means that our fear is futile, our frailty is fortified, and our falling is finite. He will never leave us or forsake us, and is with us always, even to the end of the age. May this ever-present God stir us up, his family, to be ever-present with one another through the victories, failures, and in between moments of our lives.