Psalms 16 has been on my mind for a couple weeks. I read it and was moved by it and although I usually do not memorize scripture I memorized this chapter and have been meditating on it. If you are not in the habit of memorizing scripture I hope you will try it. Like I said I usually do not, but I found it very helpful to truly meditate and receive God's word and understand more fully. I struggle with negative thoughts like I would imagine most people do, but as I have memorized this scripture I apply 2 Corinthians 10:5 which says to take every thought captive and make it obedient to God. So in memorizing, when I start to have negative thoughts, worry, etc., I will recite Psalms 16 in my head or aloud if I can instead and it has really helped me overcome some of the critical thinking.
But what I want to share today has to do with our inheritance. Psalms 16:5-6 says "The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me." As I memorized this scripture I thought of how true this was in my life. My father in law recently was honored for 40 years leading his boy scout troop. My husband and his brother have come to lead along with him for the last 8-9 years. They started going to scouts as soon as they were able stay somewhere without their mom, as now my boys and their cousins do. Many lives have been changed through this troop, as sharing the gospel and worship have always been a huge part of it. A slide show was presented that showed the last 40 years which included pictures of young "Grandpa" investing in these boys and teaching them valuable lessons, my husband and his brother as kids through the present time, and my kids - dirty faced and loving every minute! What a sweet heritage and example the patriarch of our family has given us! I am so blessed to be part of it and glad for my children.
My in laws have been giving of their time and resources for a long time. Their genuineness in service and caring for others and sharing goes beyond expectations and beyond what I ever imagined anyone would do. My mother in law is one of the most kind and faithful, supportive women I have ever met, if not the most!
In addition, my parents have always been there for me and continue to invest time and resources into my children's lives as well as mine and my husbands. They serve with loving hearts. My mom has served children and women for a long time and is a truly devoted to all of her family. My dad is a master electrician/ac and owning his business has served widows and the elderly, fixing their air conditioning on smoldering hot TX days without charge or without collecting bad debts from them when he knows they really can't pay.
We have been given an incredible heritage with family and faith at the center of it. No doubt. However God opened my eyes to something bigger this morning. I was reading Acts 7, Stephen's address to the Sanhedrin when charged with blasphemy. He answered them by indicting them with not following the Holy Spirit and persecuting the prophets, giving an account of the prophets lives leading up to Jesus. The story of the prophets really made an impression on me. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, leading to Jesus. Stephen, who was killed for his devotion after his testimony, condensed their stories into a single chapter in a summary that was captivating to me as I read about the patriarchs of the Christian faith, the strength of their faith and God's providence in their lives. It occurred to me, "this is my heritage". As a follower of Christ we are Abraham's children and our inheritance is Christ. "Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me." These verses sank deep within my spirit. Words seem inadequate to describe the beauty of our heritage in Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us and shares His inheritance with us even though we don't deserve it. We have been given the scriptures to us to show us where we came from and give us examples of faith and show us truth. I encourage you to read these verses, meditate on scripture where you are led to and let them captivate you as you realize and become grateful for your inheritance in Jesus Christ and the heritage passed down through the prophets.
Psalms 16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms+16&version=NASB
Acts 7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+7&version=NASB
