Leaving A Legacy

Earlier this week, I went to the funeral of a good friend’s mother. I’d never met her mother and count it as a great loss. One of the items that was on display that represented her life was her Bible, from which she read and studied. The margins of her Bible were filled with her personal notes she’d written as she read the verses and made them a part of her life.
The minister read the 23rd Psalm from her Bible and included her personal notes outlining the special promises each verse held for her.









Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

These verses hold promises of guidance protection and comfort. They also demonstrate a personal relationship between the created and the creator.’ I’m not sure my friend’s mother knew that she was leaving a legacy to her children that provided a picture of her personal relationship with her God and savior. Likely they were reminders of his promise to her, meant to be of comfort as she faced life’s trials, such as losing her husband, someone she dearly loved.
It also encourages all of us to not just read the Bible, but to read its verses and make the promises it holds our own. May you find comfort in God’s promises listed through out the Bible.

The Majestic or What's in a Word

The Majestic Theater

Sometimes a word will stick with me and I will do a word search on the Biblegateway website to see what Bible verses include that word. We went to the Majestic Theater to watch a film and the word “Majestic” was one that stuck out for me. What would I find when I searched the on-line Bible for the word “Majestic”?

Several verses came up, and they could categorize into two groups, one that described nature, such as mountains and the other described God or the work of God. Peter had made the connection of Christ to God and Christ’s majesty. He writes about this connection in 2 Peter 1:16-18.


We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

Peter had received these words directly from heaven when he and a select few others accompanied Jesus to a place high on a mountain, where they experience Christ’s transformation.

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:5

Peter had been given knowledge of Christ’s deity even earlier in his relationship with Christ.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. Matthew 16: 13-17

Who do you say I am? These are simple words that speak volumes about one’s place in eternity. People in Jesus’ time had varying opinions as to who Jesus was, John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Just like people of that time, people today have varying opinions as to who Jesus is. Most religions acknowledge Jesus as a person who lived on this earth. They considered him a great teacher or prophet, but not the Son of the living God. Many religions, who label themselves as Christian, don’t espouse Christ as the true single path to an eternal life with God.
They may acknowledge that Christ is the Son of God, and yet fail to recognize Christ's saving power, a power to reconcile them with God and provide them a path to eternal life with God and to dwell with him. Some stop short of recognizing and accepting Christ's gift of eternal salvation. Eternal life is not based on a big scale in the sky, weighing a person’s good deeds and bad deeds, with a hope of the good deeds out weighing the bad. Instead, it’s a gift Christ has given freely and salvation comes about for those who accept that gift and put their faith in Christ, in his power to save us.

Jesus tells us, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Who do you say Christ is?