Lineage Matters
My husband and I make it a point to set aside time, every evening, to eat dinner with our girls. Plates of food, pots full of stew, cups filled with ice water, a deck of UNO cards as the centerpiece -- dinnertime is OUR time.
One evening, I got a call...
The one rule we have for dinnertime is, "NO ELECTRONICS ALLOWED!" I usually keep my phone nearby, but on silent, in case there's an emergency -- and, boy, was I glad I kept it nearby that one night! The ringer was on silent, but I could see my phone screen illuminate with a family number on display. It was my Aunt, and my Spirit told me this wouldn't be a pleasant call...
Bad news was on the other end!
I found out that my father had just passed. It took me days to stop crying uncontrollably. By the end of the week, I got a call from our family lawyer confirming that my father's inheritance was left to my girls. After the inheritance check cleared, I realized TWO VERY IMPORTANT LESSONS:
1.) We cannot take anything with us after we die
And, 2.) Lineage is EVERYTHING!
The girls didn't have to strive, or scheme, or shuck and jive to receive the final blessing their grandfather had given them. The blood they shared with him, and his instruction for them to be the ones to be blessed, warranted them to get what was theirs!
That got me thinking...
If you've read ANY of my previous posts, you already know how I feel about Abraham. His obedience and belief was "faith" before "faith in God" ever existed. He served as an example of what it meant to have faith in one God. Although the entire nation of Israel started with this one man-of-faith, ALL believers who live by the same faith in Yahweh are deemed sons-of-Abraham, or "Abraham's Lineage". Galatians 3:7 says so...
But, what if I'm not Jewish?
Take a stroll with me over to the next verse, Galatians 3:8, where it promises that the blessing-of-Abraham is for both the Jews (those who are Israelites by blood, and religion), and the Gentiles (those who aren't Israelites by blood, but have authentic faith in God).
Living by faith means you not only believe in the One True, Living God, but that you live a life aligned to Who He Is, What He Expects, and His Character.
For more details on how to cultivate your spiritual fruits, click here for the article post ---> GOT FRUIT?
THE PROOF ISN'T IN THE PUDDING: It's Faith That Proves Who You Are
The Jewish faith was so different than other religions because in a world of paganism, it focused on One God. However, one characteristic the Jewish faith had with other religions is that those in it had to PROVE they were of God. At one point, God gave requirements on how His People should dress, what they should eat, and which part of their bodies needed to be cut off. 'Circumcision' was the requirement of cutting the foreskin of male babies within a certain time frame after they were born, deeming them as a true Israelite. Among other requirements, it was interesting to learn that Abraham, the FATHER of the faith, wasn't circumcised at the time his blessing from God.
Knowing that we don't have to fit a mold, or be perfect, or dress accurately, or speak at certain cues, relieves the tension of living in this faith. The day-to-day ops of being righteous isn't always easy, as I'm sure you already know. But take heart that in spite of not being perfect, you are ENTITLED to the inheritance God gave to Abraham. If you believe in the One True Living God, believe in Jesus Christ's ministry-death-burial-and-resurrection, and are filled with the Holy Spirit, YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.
Having a past is irrelevant.
Being grafted into the Faith doesn't make you any less a part of the Kingdom.
Still experiencing imperfections doesn't affect your lineage.
YOU ARE HIS!
WANT A CHALLENGE?
I double-dog dare you to take this next week to boost your self-esteem with righteous promises of who you are in Christ, and what your spiritual inheritance is. I challenge you to study your Word, and find the blessing that God gave to Abraham, and his seed -- JESUS CHRIST.
Much like my daughters didn't have to do anything but BE, all you have to do is BE, and accept the Spirit that lives inside of you! Accept the fact that through maturity, your spiritual DNA will manifest, and you will develop into all God has called you to be. No one has to train a baby to have their mother's eyes, or their father's personality. In the same way, accept that through Jesus Christ (and the Holy Spirit), you have the character of God -- you literally embody His Spiritual DNA - and because of your faith-lineage, and your spiritual makeup, YOU ARE BLESSED!
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Mercedes Saintfleur is a wife, mother of 3, an award-winning Event Planner, a professional in the Aviation industry, and a member of Changing Lives Christian Center. When she isn't working or serving others, this 'Creative' can be found dancing, cooking, or studying!
She's diligently studying her Word, and applying the practical, relevant Word she's learning from Pastor Paul B. Mitchell to her life. With honest transparency, she's utilizing her experiences as a Believer to encourage others to walk the narrow path of King Christ..
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