I read a post by fellow blogger,  Jen Hatmaker yesterday and she asked, “What is my legacy in Christ?” I’m not sure, but I think the world stopped spinning on its axis there for a nanosecond.

That’s not a question you gloss over and soon forget. No, that one reaches up and grabs you as you try to sail past it. Then it smacks you in the back of the head as you attempt a hasty retreat and settles on your shoulder so it can echo in your ear for the rest of the day.

What is my legacy in Christ?

I want to get this right as this urgency in my heart that’s stirred by the question begs for accuracy.

¹leg·a·cy  noun ˈle-gə-sē : something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past

¹in   preposition ˈin, ən, ^ən:  used as a function word to indicate means, medium, or instrumentality   [Vicki’s interpretation: “in” carries the meaning of “through”

I’m relieved by the assurance that this legacy isn’t dependent on my abilities. It’s going to happen through Christ and my relationship with Him. The obvious implication is that I need to be on top of that relationship. This isn’t something that will happen on its own. Relationships take work and commitment and that does land on me. I’m well aware that He isn’t going anywhere. He steadfastly waits for me to make a connection. So my legacy is going to require an attachment to my Savior. Check.

My legacy could feel self-centered given that it sort of means that the way I live my life here on Earth will determine how I’m remembered. Oh, wouldn’t that little companion named “pride” like to believe that it is all about me? In generations to come, when they “Google” my name, how many pages will scroll onto their screen? Ouch.

See how easy it is to forget the end of the phrase – “What is my legacy in Christ?” I’m pretty sure that just as spiritual gifts that He’s graciously given me are supposed to point others toward Him, rather than toward me, a legacy in Christ illuminates the work He’s done in my heart, which is manifested in how I live. This is reflected in what I say, think, and do; where and how I invest my time, resources, and abilities; and even how I vote. [Election day is 18 days away. Will your vote reflect your legacy?]

Legacy is more than just how I live my life; I think He assigns us a legacy specific to who He created us to be in Him. It’s closely tied to our purpose. We are all instructed to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). That’s a given for all of His children, but what if He asks each of us to complete a specific task for Him while we’re here? What if this is how we live as women of the promise? What if we live our life asking Him every morning, “What do you need for me to do this day? How is what you’re asking of me part of your greater plan and promise?”

Oh, my friends, I think sometimes often the answer to those questions require that I am completely Christ-dependent, in-over-my-head, and scared out of my wits. If I’m not, then I’m functioning out of confidence in my ability, instead of faith in Him. “And without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). The Master Teacher doesn’t give easy-A assignments. They are hard and require a Partner.

 While I need to be intentional about how I daily choose to live my life, I also need to be purposeful about living the question:

What is my legacy in Christ?

“Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day.”  Billy Graham

Talk to me~

What gut-busting assignment … legacy in Christ … has the Master Teacher asked you to be working on while you’re here?

Is that legacy firm or does it change shape? Who decides?

I would love to hear your musings on this.  It’s okay if you just have more questions. I’m asking lots of questions today myself. I’m so grateful that I know to Whom I can direct them.

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