Rise From Where You Are

“But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;”
Acts 26:16 KJV

Read Along

Legacy can sound like a word reserved for the end of life. It may bring to mind an inheritance, a family name, a ministry, or something large enough to be remembered. Scripture brings the question closer. Legacy is already being formed through the way we live, love, return to God, speak, repair, serve, and help others follow Christ.

Christ met Paul while Paul was moving in the wrong direction. Jesus did not wait for him to repair his past or understand the entire future before saying, “Rise, and stand upon thy feet.” Paul would grow, learn, suffer, serve, and be corrected as he went. The first instruction was to rise and listen.

Your past matters, and some parts may need grief, repentance, healing, or repair. But your past does not have the final authority to decide what Christ can do from here. You do not need a perfect story before your life can become faithful. In fact, the pattern of returning to Christ may be one of the most important things another person ever learns by watching you.

You also do not need a particular family structure, title, platform, age, or audience. Faithfulness can move through a home, friendship, workplace, church, conversation, child, neighbor, or person who needs encouragement. Legacy begins with the life and responsibilities already in front of you.

Private Reflection

Where have I been waiting to become more impressive, certain, healed, or qualified before I live faithfully?

Who helped me stand through ordinary faithfulness?

What responsibility or relationship is already in front of me?

What is one faithful response I can make this week?

One faithful response

Complete this sentence: One way faithfulness can move through my life now is...

Prayer

Jesus, meet us where we are. Show us what is ours to carry today, and free us from the pressure to become impressive before we can be faithful. Amen.