Gifts + Members = Legacy #312

Gifts + Members = Legacy #312

As 2024 comes to a close, you may be feeling grateful on one hand and nervous on the other. You ask yourself, Where did the time go? What will 2025 be like? What’s God’s plan? Do I matter? 

The apostle Paul reminds us that we are part of God’s plan in a body with many members. After reading 1 Corinthians 12 several times, I made a connection between the power of your legacy, how it coordinates with spiritual gifts, and the idea of one body. So today, I’ll paraphrase chapter 12 and connect the dots.

Paul states that there are varieties of gifts, services, and activities by the same Spirit, Lord, and God, who empowers them all in everyone. You may have read this chapter before but never connected it to you or your legacy. But the dots do connect. Never think that you don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. That lie is not from God; He’ll never say that to you. As His child, then you’ve received one of these gifts or talents. Paul says in chapter 12 that weaker parts of the “body” are bestowed the greatest honor. On that alone, you matter.

Come to grips that you’ll be remembered in some way, either good, bad, or indifferent. Paul ties this to one body with many members. Their everyday memory determines your legacy, and if you want it to spread long after you’re gone, you should know the many members who play a part in extending it. It starts with your spouse, kids, grandkids, friends, colleagues, employees if you’re a boss, or your players if you’re a coach or your network.

Each member of your legacy will remember what you impart to them, or if you believed in them, not what you physically gave them in a will. Gifts like wisdom, faith, knowledge, healing, miracles, prophesy, discernment, and the language you speak are a fraction of what you have to give. I believe you can share, lead, or build up others and direct the output of your legacy. You matter, and your members need it.

Paul also stated that there should be no division between the body and its members. If one hurts, then all hurt together, so members of the body are to care for one another. We need to be aware that every member in your one “body” is uniquely created and is revealing themselves to the world in their way under the umbrella of your legacy.

Tend to your flock so well that you know what the members of your legacy hear and how they speak. You may need to change how you communicate or help them interpret your words. Discern if they need words of praise, strong discipline, silence, or if they’re motivated by rewards or fear of loss. You need to know because they are always representing you and your legacy regardless of who they’re with or where they’re at. 

So, if you doubt the importance of what your legacy can be, then you’re failing to see the possibilities of it and the members in it. That would be a travesty that leaves you with no legacy. If you want to fulfill the destiny that God’s placed on you, then show steadfast love, teach, prophesy, speak, and think differently from this point forward.

I believe this world can be made better by you with the difference you make in the lives of others, one member at a time. Remember, your legacy can be great when all of the members of it flourish because of you. Start living a legacy today!

Visit www.lighthouselegacies.com, and let’s find your ideal legacy. Also, listen to The Legacy for Christian Leaders podcast on your favorite platforms.