Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Choosing a Good Name
Many things are transferred generationally- health, wealth, and genetic predispositions to name a few. But one generational blessing that carries an even greater weight is the honor of a good name. When you hear someone’s name, you either associate them negatively or positively based on their actions and character. Certain family names bear shame, while others carry honor. Our actions, not just our words, reveal whether our name is honorable and consistent with a godly lifestyle. Our integrity in keeping God’s word determines whether we receive the generational blessings God wants for us.
One thing that we know about God from the scriptures is that He’s a family guy-- when He finds someone who will honor relationship with Him, He sets up a covenant with that individual and in the very next breath starts laying out a plan and purpose for their seed for generations to come. As long as that person remained loyal to God, God honored His end of the deal. Two examples of this principle are the lives of Saul and David.
Take a look at Saul’s life: When the prophet Samuel told Saul that he would be the first king of Israel, Saul had everything going for him…on the outside. He was handsome, very handsome actually, but his actions would reveal issues of the heart that the entire nation of Israel struggled with—faithfulness, loyalty, and integrity. When the people of Israel demanded a king, God said that they rejected Him and would rather have a temperamental, carnal man’s leadership over His. Wow. Even then, God warned them that the king they demanded would make them his servants, send their sons to war, cause their daughters to labor, plus tax everything that they had. Yet and still, the people persisted in having a king. Sadly, no sooner than Saul took office, each situation that came his way would become an object lesson exposing the heart of this leader.
In 1 Samuel 13:13-14, Samuel the prophet confronts Saul after he once again disobeyed God’s instructions and tried to justify his actions instead of accepting responsibility; “And Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you”. The cost of Saul’s actions cut his family off from receiving the generational blessing that God had for him. If you are familiar with the story, then you know that both Saul and his son were killed in battle and God established David as the new king, whom He referred to as a man after God’s own heart. Although David wasn’t perfect (and who is for that matter), he was repentant and obedient. And because of that, God the Father chose David’s lineage and DNA for Christ’s entry into the world. What greater honor is there?!
Saul had the same opportunities to obey and repent as David, yet he chose not to. Because David did, God fulfilled His promise to make David’s name great. In fact, David’s name appears in the Bible more than any other person. Even though David was Saul’s son-in-law, we rarely remember that fact because their lives were in such stark contrast. Generational blessings are ensured when we walk according to God’s word. God keeps His promises. Will you keep yours?
Scripture of the Day: "You have done a foolish thing, ” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time." - 1 Samuel 13:13
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