REFLECTIONS
January 24, 2010
 
 
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
John 13:34-35
 
 
Last Will and Testament
 
The family gathered to hear the reading of the last will and testament of Howard “Red” Stevens. It was the subject of the novel and movie entitled The Ultimate Gift. In the story written by Jim Stovall, the family learned the manner Red wanted to distribute his worldly estate. That seemed to be the only interest they had; but Red had more in mind. In his life he had been a poor model for his family to follow and he hoped to use his last will and testament to improve it. It was his last chance to set a meaningful example for his children. And isn’t that the most important legacy we can leave.
From the time they are born to the time we take our final breath, we shape the lives of our children. We teach them how to live (or how not to); and the lessons we teach are rooted in the way we live, not by what we have. There is no way around it. It is God’s design. Everything we do sets an example—good or bad. The lives of our children are molded by the way we conduct ours. When we do it right, we teach them the love of God. It’s what Jesus directed in his last will and testament to us.
Jesus had no worldly possessions. His life was about love and with his love He made disciples. He is the example for our lives, and it is simple. “As I have loved you, love one another,” He said. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” That is his last will and testament.And it should also be ours.
Our legacies are passed on by the way we live our lives not through the possessions we accumulate. The love we give in our lifetimes will endure long after possessions are gone. And if love is passed to our children in our last will and testament, it will be the most meaningful legacy we can leave.
And we will have made disciples too.
 
“You are the light of the world.”
RichardÌ
 

www.reflectingthesavior.org.


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