CELEBRATING HER LEGACY – Ps Tahlia Brancatisano & Ps Sally Doery
Legacy defined: What comes to mind when we hear the word, Legacy? A quick google search defines legacy as ‘Inheritance,’ meaning “an amount of money or property left to someone in a will… an inheritance, heritage, gift, birth right”. But the word ‘Legacy’ means so much more. Legacy focuses on what will endure. It’s about passing on things of lasting value to those who will live on after us. Legacy involves living intentionally and aiming to build into the generations for their success.
SCRIPTURE Mathew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Seeking God is at the heart of our legacy. It is the idea that we’ll seek His ways and be faithful with what we’ve been given. God has entrusted to us time, abilities, financial resources etc.., but He has also entrusted us with far more valuable things: the people in our lives and our ability to point them towards Him. When seeking God and His ways first becomes our intention, our possessions and personal success become secondary to higher priorities: loving God and loving people. For many of us, the main area of influence will be our own families, investing ourselves to help spouses, children and family thrive. For some who don’t have family around or children, God has called us all to be faithful and to love and serve the people He has positioned us to be around in our communities, workplaces, and churches.
When we are intentional about investing into the lives of people, it keeps us focused on what is most important to God. It helps us live a legacy defined not by material wealth but by seeking His ways first, making life for others better, and leaving behind a lasting impact for good.
- What is your understanding of legacy, and have you thought about what you would like yours to be?
- What do you think is the most significant thing to pass onto others in your family and to the next generation?
- Would you say that how you are living life today is setting you up to leave the legacy you desire? If not, what needs to change?
Have you ever wondered how your friends and family would describe you? Perhaps they would say that you are confident and bold, driven, and purposeful. Or maybe they would describe you as kind and compassionate, caring, and selfless. Such traits are both admirable and desirable.
In Luke 1:38 we see that Mary, the mother of Jesus, describes herself as the Lord’s servant. And what’s incredible is that Mary didn’t know just how much her saying ‘yes’ to God would change the entire world forever – talk about leaving a legacy! And the same is for us. When we are faithful with our yes, God will change our world and the world of those around us for eternity!
I’m sure Mary would tell us that she never had a strategic plan to change the world! She just always did what God put in front of her. The impact of faithfully doing the next thing is far greater than she ever expected.
Mary’s ‘yes’ to God in that moment was the most important ‘yes’ of all time.
Yet, she wouldn’t have fully known that. How was she to know that her yes would change people’s lives, their eternities in fact!
And the truth is, we also don’t know the full impact our yes will have on the lives of others.
We don’t need to have a 5-step plan (we can have one, it’s great to be prepared!). But more importantly, we just need to do the next right thing.
Faithfully doing the next thing might not seem to fit into a strategic life plan, but you never know what God will do with your life if you make yourself available and simply say as Mary did, ‘yes… I am my Lords servant’.
- It’s a great question to ask ourselves. How would people describe you? And more importantly, how would you describe yourself?
- What is your current ‘yes’ to God? Share with your group the impact your yes has had in your life and in the life of others. What was the right next thing you did to take the next step?
- What are some things that can get in the way of our yes? Or what causes us say no?! It could be time, age, money, ability. (Remember when God calls you, he equips you!)
- How can we stay on track to leave behind an impactful legacy?
Sundays Message
Listen to Sunday’s message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diUiANG3PcE
Prayer
Men – 6am Tuesday at LIFE
Women – 6.30am Wednesday at LIFE
RESOURCE REF: NIV Bible, Bible Hub Definitions, Life message