Heritage

We started the Beth Moore study 'The Patriarchs' last Wednesday at church. I received this email devotional today and thought it went along great with all that is going on in my life right now as far as bible studies, etc.

Your Heritage
by Gail Rogers

"Consider the outcome of their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:7 & 8).

Dust drifted up from the old suitcase as we opened it. Dusty papers, old pictures, brittle birth certificates and worn out pages of family history notes rustled in the morning air.
My Dad came for a visit bringing the old suitcase that had held the family archives for years. We poured over them, sorting them out and making a map of our history.

"Who cares, Mom? Why bother?" asked one of my kids. But it was good. It gave me a sense of my roots and knowledge of where I came from.
Regardless of our individual family histories, as Christians you and I belong to the same family of believers. God spells out the family archives for all of us as His children so we have a sense of our roots and a knowledge of belonging.

Hebrews chapter 11 lists our spiritual ancestors who inspire us with their faith.
- Abraham who heard God say "go" and he went, not knowing his destination;
- Noah who prepared for a flood while the sun shone and the people laughed;
- Joseph who trusted his God even when his family deserted him and he found himself in a strange land;
- Moses who believed God to part the Red Sea so the people had a way to safety where there was no way;
- Joshua who obeyed the "off the wall" instructions to march around the city of Jericho with lanterns and captured it by faith without a battle.

It is so important to recall and be encouraged by those who have gone before us. It helps us to keep our feet from getting tangled in things that distract. (chapter 12) It helps us keep our eyes focused on Jesus as we run the course He has marked out for each of us individuals.

"Consider the outcome of their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:7 & 8).

Take a moment to thank God for your spiritual family archives. Be encouraged in your circumstance today that you follow this same Jesus who never changes. He will be as faithful to you today as He was to our forefathers.

Keep your focus...walk by faith. You have a powerful heritage!

~Father God,
Thank you today for the confidence that the God of yesterday is still the God of today. Remind me of this as I go through my day and as I trust you in the hard spots.
Thank you that I belong to this family of believers; that this history is my history. Help me today to walk by faith and to keep my eyes focused on Your strength. I love You Lord. Please keep my feet from being entangled in the distractions of my day. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.