I wanted to comfort Pauline from her comment to Jennifer’s post, “Does Immorality Degrade Our Genetic Code?” which went up Monday. So this is the story – well, part of the story – of my faith in God’s promises for my children and grandchildren and on and on…
As a young believer, I so wanted to study the Bible on a college level. I went to a class in a nearby church that claimed to be college level. But thank God, in his wisdom, the teacher was not out to convey Biblical knowledge. He wanted to impart spiritual understanding! So till this day, I remember vividly the first issue he introduced to us. It was God’s covenant promise for our children.
He was teaching Genesis foundations, but first took us to Galatians.
And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:29
(We have an inheritance through Abraham! And we born-again believers need to see and take hold of that heritage. It will change the course of history – as is the promise.)
God preached the gospel to Abraham: In you all the nations shall be blessed.
Galatians 3:8
The Gospel! Paul saw this word of God as the promise of Christ’s redemption.
First promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:2): I will make you a great nation (that means children – many children). Further God promised: “I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and I will curse him who curses you.”
Promises and Blessings in Christ
What is the promise that you inherited from Christ in Abraham?
Basically, it was the absolute promise that in Christ, God will bless your children grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great and great-great-great! And you and they will be a blessing to the world. How amazing! And it’s true.
It is the Covenant of God. This is the gospel! Because of Christ, God will be committed to you but also to your children. For you who are reading this post: in YOU all the nations shall be blessed. That is YOUR promise from Galatians 3:29.
And my professor clearly taught me the promise of God through Abraham, that He would surely bless my offspring.
I have a collection of scripture promises, what God will do for my “children’s children.” I have specific promises that are rock solid and give me hope and joy and peace about my descendants!
Specific Promises of Love
A few days ago my favorite grandson, who just graduated from college, put his kayak in at the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota to paddle ALONE on an epic journey down the Mississippi. I could not catch my breath at such a plan, but his parents knew that this was God’s idea and I believed it also.
I asked for a promise, specific and real, a Rock on which I could rest my faith. And the Lord led me straight to this promise I have had for years for my children. I hadn’t visited this Rock for some years but I saw it is still in effect and I began to have joy and admiration for his courage.
Isaiah 44:2-5
(Forgive me for inserting my personal names and my emphasis. After all, this IS my personal promise of the Spirit. It’s MINE – ha!)
‘Do not fear, O (Mimi) My servant;
And you (young man) whom I have chosen.
‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land
And streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit on your (eleven) offspring
And My blessing on your(spiritual) descendants;
And they will spring up among the grass
Like poplars by (Mississippi) streams of water.’
“This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;
And that one will call on the name of Jacob;
And another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the Lord,’
The story of my grandson’s journey has just begun, but even now the most amazing provision has come to find him. I’ll just tell you one: he has met and now rows with a professional river ‘paddler’ who is totally skilled, equipped and experienced. And that is just one gift of many!
So Pauline dear, the promises are true!
I have more to give you of the absolute assurance that your children have a new inheritance through you from Christ! And it is a complete change of identity because of your Beloved Jesus! The old is gone, the new has come.
Does anyone out there want to hear more? There are rivers of promise for your offspring in God’s Word, and His Wonderful Spirit will take you to them with His personal touch for your faith.
Dwell, settle down, rest in the promises not the visible!
Just returned home last night from visiting my step children and grandchildren. I was so encouraged to see fruit of God’s love on this family. I am so encouraged by this post and being reminded of God’s promises for me, my children and grandchildren and beyond. Thank you so much for sharing what these truths look like in your life. Much love and appreciation Martha
OH Martha, good to see your name and thanks for the YES AND AMEN!
Thank you, Martha. Yes, I want more. God is doing such amazing things in and through my grandchildren that all I can do is stand in awe and praise Him. Years ago, I asked Him for a “sure word”. He gave it to me and I know I am to stand on it. I am seeing the results of claiming that all these years. God bless you. Much love & prayers Wanda
Oh, Martha, you make me hungry for more: more of Jesus as Wisdom, more of Him as my Confidence in the Covenant promises; His Faith inside me: the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. We are, indeed, blessed with every spiritual blessing — how good He is! As I search the scriptures pertaining to God’s Covenant promises, other than those that you have blessed us in sharing, I will also put my own name to them. Martha, you have put a fire in me and I am purposing to hold the Holy Spirit to the… Read more »
Yes, I second Andrea’s comments. Please write more. I am trying not to be discouraged with the disobedience and lack of regard to my twins obeying quickly or even coming forward with an apology. I have to believe the Holy Spirit is working despite lack of evidence. Also, pray for my husband & I to be on the same page in the issues. Thank you deeply
what a perfectly on-time message this is! thank you …..yes! I want to hear more ….sometimes I get so caught up in the grit of present day circumstances my eyes are blurred to the Truth ……these are the times one must simply stand, dig one’s toes into the Rock and call forth that which is promised but not yet seen…..
Thank you Lord for Your promises and thank you Martha for the encouragement! May i dwell, settle down “into” Christ, who is my promise!
Oh bless you for such wonderful words of comfort and encouragement.
Love.
OH Martha, what a “Blessed ” post, what blessed assurance that HE has given you. AND always you don’t keep it for yourself but pass it on to us who have ears to hear. YES AND AMEN. THANK YOU THANK YOU.
MAY HE GIVE YOU MORE AND MORE, and I send you much love.
Yes, as always, you ‘arise and give portion’ to your handmaidens, your lamp does not go out…
Thank you for constantly showing us Who Our Father Is!
Thank you for this Lord! The promises of God visiting on the generations of those that fear Him are a hundredfold compared with His visiting the iniquity. THe first comes out of His pain (His angers come at the cost of His pain), and the second comes out of His joy.
Just weigh one and another… if you can: our rebellion and that rebellion removed by the Son. We are talking almost of a different world. Will He not be aware and attentive of that?
Ha!
I mean… the 2nd (visiting iniquity) comes out of His pain and the 1st (visiting with blessings) come out of His joy!