Are we leaving a legacy?
Maybe I should begin with another question: How do we want to be remembered? What does leaving a legacy entail?
For some, it is fame, fortune, inventions, athletic ability, greatest hits, or movie roles.
But, is it our accomplishments?
I graduated high school 43 years ago – does anyone still stand on their superlatives? Best smile? Most likely to succeed? Most Popular or Athletic?
I didn’t receive any of those, by the way.
This is a question that I’m pondering since Pastor Fohle Lygunda shared his message on the topic of legacy.
John 15:16 says that God desires that we bear fruit that lasts.
That’s legacy.
Pastor Fohle’s message about legacy prompts me to ask:
What fruit am I leaving behind?
And, what changes should I make so my fruit is the kind that lasts?
We could define this as possessing the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), fruit we cannot grow ourselves. But, leaving a legacy is more than that.
Jesus said the two greatest commandments are:
Love God
Love people
So what if legacy has nothing to do with things or achievements? What if our legacy is what we invest in others?
What if #legacy has nothing to do with things or achievements? #FruitThatLasts Click To Tweet
1 Corinthians 13 tells me that:
Love never fails—never ceases—never comes to an end.
Someday our outward expressions like prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will cease; and without love, our efforts are nothing.
Our deeds become like a noisy gong if love isn’t the reason we do what we do.
They are like the chaff of wheat that will blow away. In other words, fruit that DOESN”T last.
This tells me legacy isn’t wrapped up in what we do or achieve.
Our motive of love helps our fruit remain after the chaff is driven away by the wind.
Granted, our motives are never pure. But I believe we can ask God for His love to be the fuel to our fruit. We will see fruit that lasts because it is invested in people.
God can show us how to leave a legacy as we seek to love as He loves—unconditionally.
The Arms of Love Are Far-Reaching
We live in a huge world filled with needs. We cannot possibly make a dent in every love-less situation. But I think we can respond to the opportunities closest to us, creating a ripple effect. And each ripple of love will bump against and overflow other ripples as we meet the needs of our neighbors.
When we take the time to pass along our faith, hope, and love to those around us, these never fail. Because we are looking at a person face to face, seeing them as God sees them. He loved them enough to die for them. And our actions speak the language of love to them in Jesus name.
When our motive is love, it begins in the best place. Love is the seed of the legacy we leave—the foundation really.
When God said the world would know His people by their love, He meant it. Love is like a beacon to those who are hurting. And when you love, you touch in a way that lasts for eternity.
When you love, you touch in a way that lasts for eternity. #LeavingALegacy #LovingPeople Click To Tweet
I wonder, is this the fragrance we read about in 2 Corinthians 2:15-17, that points to Christ.
Practical Steps to Leaving a Legacy – Producing Fruit that Lasts
Are you looking for opportunities to love and produce fruit that lasts? Ask God to enlarge your territory and give you eyes to see as He sees. We can impact those around us by being the hands and feet of Jesus to a world that is down-a-quart on love.
The smallest action done in love will speak volumes to a hurting heart. So as I assimilate this legacy message into my life, I am asking God to:
Search my heart
Purify my motives
Prune my extra activities to produce more fruit
Help me to follow His lead to impact those around me
And Give me opportunities to love people
Love God and Love People
With His love and purpose, we can make a difference. After all, He calls us to love because He first loved us. So we are simply sharing what we have already been given.
Love is the catalyst. And my English study tells me that love is a verb – an action word. Action speaks louder than words and this draws people to Christ. This is how the world will know we are His people.
#LoveIsAVerb. An Action Word. And action speaks louder than words; this draws people to Christ. #LovePeople Click To Tweet
I am making a list of the things I do – how I spend my time. And, asking whether this is what God wants me to be leaving behind as a legacy.
So, what do you want to be remembered for?
Share your thoughts about leaving a legacy by scrolling down and leaving a comment below.
Share the Love You have Received from God’s Endless Supply
Jeanne
Your love is bigger than any ocean
Your grace deeper than the sea
O Lord my God I want to share
The Love You’ve given me
~ Jeanne Doyon
Want to receive posts like this by email, Subscribe Here and enjoy my gift of a mini word study. And, you can get Lisa Joy’s beautiful handcrafted coloring page.
For devotional and Bible study materials (including my video study in John 15, Abiding in the True Vine: Producing fruit that lasts) be sure to Visit my Downloads Page for Resources.
Gifts to help this ministry are not tax-deductible but very appreciated.
Resources for you from Amazon
Amen Ms. Jeanne. I’ve oft wondered about the legacy I will leave behind on this earth when God calls me home. My goal is to leave a Legacy of Love. Wonderful post ma’am. Am sure your family can feel your legacy growing with each hug, kiss, and selfless act you do. God’s blessings ma’am. p.s. Great to see you posting again. I’ve missed your inspirational messages.
Thank you for stopping by, J. D. I appreciate your words of encouragement – that is a legacy in itself 🙂
I also began “thoughts on paper” of what I want left here when I’m not……..this is for my writer’s group.
It surely isn’t for any grand accomplishment ..
I do want the footsteps I’m leaving to have had an impact for others. You have said it in truth, Jeanne. Our fruit comes from our love for others. Thank you
Thanks for your thoughts on leaving a legacy, Mom. If I think of people who are gone, it is easy to see what they loved, how they loved, and what I remember them for. Memere encouraged others easily and showed mercy to so many. Dad loved people and was thought highly of. A man in our church used to ask after people and the condition of their heart. These are part of the legacy they left.
So wise, Jeanne. I never thought much of my legacy until I came to know Christ at the age of 27. I was able to see that the decisions I make today will affect generations that I’ll never know this side of heaven. Thank you for this post.
Cathy,
Thanks for stopping in to share your thoughts on leaving a legacy. Such a good reminder that our life has purpose given by God. And touching lives is part of being His ambassadors 🙂
Thanks, Jeanne for a timely message given the state of affairs in our world today! I have often thought about legacy and my hope and prayer is that people will be able to have recognized Jesus in my life as evidenced by my love for Him and my love for others. At the end of the day everything needs to point to Him.
So true, Sheree. A life lived for Him will become a legacy for sure.
I often think of what I am leaving behind. What will I be remembered for? My prayer and goal is for my life to reflect Christ so that others will know Him. I love this post, Jeanne. It puts the perspective where it needs to be.
Thank you, Barbara. I appreciate your input on this topic of legacy. I am not sure we will ever truly know our influence for Him this side of heaven. But, Living a life that reflects Him is the best goal for sure.
“Share the love you have received from God’s endless supply.” What a beautiful and profound directive. We know our blessings are infinite so there she be no limit to our gift of love to others. I want my legacy to be that, as a servant of my Lord, I give of my time, energy, and efforts to serve His children. Thank you for your inspiring post, Jeanne.
Thank you for chiming in on leaving a legacy, Katherine. And so true, how can we hold back on loving others when He so lavishly loves us first. It is like the cup that overflows. We can never empty it of all it contains.
This question certainly made me stop and think: “What if our legacy is what we invest in others?” Jesus invested in everyone He met, one person, one heart, at a time. I pray that I can learn to be more like Jesus and invest in those around me.
Julie, what a beautiful reminder of all that Jesus accomplished one person at a time. That is how our impact grows when we truly love others that we meet every day. Whether it is a kind word or deed at the grocery store, or something bigger. We touch others in so many ways – truly leaving a legacy for Christ. Thanks for your thoughts.
Enjoyed your post, Jeanne. I may borrow your idea of making a list of the things I do and how I’m spending my time. May be an eye opener!
LuAnn, I think that is a great idea…being intentional is helpful when life gets crazy. The funny thing is, we don’t even realize it’s crazy until we take a look. Sneaks up on us!! An eye-opener indeed. Thanks for stopping by! I’d love to hear from you once you make your list.
Thank you Jeanne for your reflection. Jesus is a good model of someone who left a lasting legacy. It has been a key concern for me… to leave a lasting legacy for God’s kingdom. I think the best one is to invest in people, as one of your respondents pointed out. Practically for me now, I pray God for his assistance to train people who can foster missiological studies in the Francophone Africa where mission most often stand for “white people’s duty”. A missionary is a white Christian who leaves Europe or North America to serve Lord in Africa! In many seminaries in Francophone Africa, there is no program on Missiology. One of my activities in the begining of the year 2021 is to select 10 postgraduate students from various countries to help them make an Introduction to Missiology syllabus for undergraduate students, and another group of PhD students to frame a syllabus on Missiological Trends for Masters students. Please, pray that God allow some means to achieve this specific goal as it requires some financial implications. Blessings. Fohle
You are doing a wonderful work there in Africa, Fohle. Thank you for your thoughts on legacy. We will all leave behind something–I pray that it will be a vibrant testimony of God’s amazing grace.