Leaving a Righteous Legacy - Protestant Caucus/Devotional

"By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks" (Heb 11:4). The character of your life will determine the legacy you leave to others.

Bible scholar James Moffatt wrote, "Death is never the last word in the life of a . . . man. When a man leaves this world, be he righteous or unrighteous, he leaves something in the world. He may leave something that will grow and spread like a cancer or a poison, or he may leave something like the fragrance of perfume or a blossom of beauty that permeates the atmosphere with blessing."

That's illustrated in the lives of Adam and Eve's first sons: Cain and Abel. Cain was an unrighteous man who sought to please God by his own efforts. God rejected him (Gen. 4:5). Abel was a righteous man who worshiped God in true faith. God accepted Him (v. 4).

In a jealous rage, Cain murdered Abel, becoming the first human being to take the life of another. He forever stands as a testimony to the utter tragedy of attempting to please God apart from true faith. For "without faith," Hebrews 11:6 says, "it is impossible to please Him." Cain tried and failed—as have millions who have followed in his footsteps.

Abel, on the other hand, was the first man of faith. Prior to the Fall, Adam and Eve had no need of faith in the same way as their descendants. They lived in the paradise of Eden and had direct contact with God. Their children were the first to have need of faith in its fullest sense.

Cain's legacy is rebellion, heartache, and judgment. Abel's is righteousness, justice, and saving faith. His life proclaims the central message of redemption: righteousness is by faith alone.

What legacy will you leave to those who follow? I pray they will see in you a pattern of righteousness and faithfulness that inspires them to follow suit.

For sure rebellion leads to heartache and judgment, as we try to do things in our own power apart from God. We really can’t do anything right without Him!

Thank You For Your Eternal Faithfulness To Me

Dear Heavenly Father, I do trust You, but at times I wonder if my faith in You is sufficient. Praise God that my hope does not reply on my sufficiency but on Yours. My hope of eternal life in heaven with You does not depend on my righteousness or good works, but on You and on Your everlasting faithfulness, Your omnipotent strength and Your finished work of Calvary’s cross.

What I wonderful God You are, and I am beginning to understand what it means that I must nor rely on my own strength, for my strength will fail, but I am to rely on Your everlasting Strength and Your eternal faithfulness to finish the good work that You started in me the moment that I trusted You as Saviour.

Help me to abide in You and to trust in the promises that You have given to all Your children in the Bible, for Your Word is truth and cannot be broken. Oh thank You, Lord, that You chose to save all who trust in Jesus Christ, and have promised that even if my faith grows weak or fails, You will not forsake me, but have promised to remain faithful to finish the good work that You have started in me. Thank You Father,

Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/thank-you-for-your-eternal-faithfulness-to-me-528

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