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Spiritual Inheritance

Have you ever thought about how much you will leave as an inheritance? I've thought a lot about saving money for my later years and I regularly hear from people who are concerned about how much or how little they will be able to pass on and sometimes those who feel the pressure of wisely handling the inheritance they know will be passed down to them. Today, as I read Exodus 20 I was struck by the inclusion of a spiritual inheritance within the famous passage of the Ten Commandments. Those who hate God pass on a curse while those who love and obey pass on a blessing.

How often do I really think about spiritual inheritance?

This is a weighty and complex thing to consider but I want to focus on the generosity aspect. Most of the time, I think about my faith as a personal relationship and the application of blessing is usually in reference to my current circumstances. Yet I also know that I cannot separate my personal call from the corporate call as one of His people. This means that my walk with Jesus has an impact on the generations that come after me. Not only is this true for my immediate family, but for my household of faith as well.

What is also noteworthy is that while the curse is passed down for a few generations, the blessing covers thousands of generations! One person who loves God through following His instructions can change the direction of a household far greater than someone who hates God through disobedience. Understanding this gives a weight to my steps and a purpose to my righteous relationship that is far greater than my individual, immediate circumstances.

To obey the first commandment is to live a life of generosity as I build a spiritual inheritance for the generations that will follow me. I may not be able to stash away millions or leave stock options or homes, but I can store up treasures in the Kingdom that will be poured out of God's storehouses for generations to come.

I have to add, I am so thankful for the blessing that has been poured out on my spiritual life from all those who came before me and invested so heavily into my future. God, strengthen my obedience that I may leave the coming generations with a spiritual inheritance of abundant blessing.

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