Scripture
"Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right." (Ezekiel 18:5)
"Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things " (Ezekiel 18:10)
"The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them." (Ezekiel 18:20)
Observation
I have been blessed to have a number of spiritual fathers. Men who have exampled Jesus, offered grace and encouragement, guided and prodded as necessary, and loved me fairly and unconditionally. These giants of the faith have given me a clear view of the man that God desires for me to be. It’d be so easy if I could just ride on their coattails, but, if I simply rely on their greatness, their hard work, their sacrifices, then I’m fated to fail. I’ll fail because as soon as I lose the momentum that they have generated, I’ll be underequipped and underdeveloped to progress on my own.
Ezekiel speaks of the offspring of a righteous father who does the exact opposite of what gained his father the title “righteous.” Do we expect the father’s works to filter to the son, saving him and redeeming all his faults? Absolutely not!
Likewise, I can’t wait or hope for someone else to get it right so I can reap the benefits and rewards. I need to get it right. I need to commit wholeheartedly and fully to my covenant with Jesus to love Him and His people.
Application
With the same heart, I can’t bear the burden of succeeding for my offspring. Jillian’s race and Eden’s race, while related to mine, are uniquely they’re own. So instead of trying to make their life easier, piling up righteouseness and hoping it filters down ot them, I should:
- Example a life that honors Jesus. Just like one man’s good works can’t save me, my good works won’t save anyone either. All I can do is aspire to live a good life with wisdom.
- Commit to consistent spiritual growth and honest accountability….and it needs to happen both ways. I need to be held accountable and hold others accountable.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for the blessing of receiving and now passing on examples of Your righteousness. I pray for a harmonious blend of stamina and surrender in order to carry on and example your legacy of grace and hope.
