An Eternal Christian Legacy: A Father’s Day 2025 Devotional

 “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

–Romans 9:2-3

A Dignified Man’s Impact

My grandfather passed away in July of 2024. He was a dignified man. Most members of the family called him “the general” because he often, bossily, gave advice to others.  He loved his family and raised his siblings after my great grandfather—his father—could not. When he was young, he sacrificed his opportunity to go to school and college. Instead, he worked and made sure that his younger siblings could achieve their dreams. 

A Life Filled with Faith, Love, and Service

After marrying my grandmother, he helped to raise children who were not his own. He looked after both his family and community. Once he became an associate pastor, he spent time pouring into the lives of his church brethren. My grandfather was someone who could be called late at night for prayer or would challenge his fellow Christ-followers in a way to grow their faith. 

At 91 years old, he passed away after suffering from dementia. When I heard of his death, I was saddened; however, it didn’t truly impact me until one morning when I was listening to gospel music. As the words of the doxology began to fill my ears through my headphones, I cried. I’d long memorized the words and knew the doxology by heart. It was in my grandfather’s church that I’d first heard it.

My grandfather lived a life of faith, love, and service to both his family and community. Yet, the greatest accomplishment of my grandfather’s life was his faith in Jesus and his dogged desire to share his faith with this family and friends. Looking back, I remember that, even at my grandfather’s funeral, the gospel was preached. My grandfather, or “the general”, created an eternal Christian legacy by dedicating his life to the one thing that matters—a personal relationship with Jesus.

The Apostle Paul: A Christian Legacy of Gospel Devotion

As I think of my grandfather, I’m reminded of another believer whose dedication to God and zeal for sharing his faith impacted others—the Apostle Paul. In Romans 9:2-3, Paul says:

 “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” 

When I read these words, I’m struck by the Apostle Paul’s passion for sharing the gospel, and his dedication to reaching the lost. Over the course of his life, the Apostle Paul would enduring beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, and more. He endured these things to share the gospel.

What Legacy Will You Leave Behind?

Have you ever wondered what kind of eternal legacy you would like to leave for your family, friends, and community? In this world, we often work hard and endure hardships to pass on our wealth or social status to those we will one day leave behind. However, there is an eternal Christian legacy that we might also choose to leave. If we, like the Apostle Paul, dedicate ourselves to sharing the gospel, we could have an eternal impact on our families and communities. We could choose to live a life filled with faith, love, and service.

Celebrating Father’s Day 2025

My grandfather was a simple man, but he left an eternal Christian legacy. He wasn’t a genius, didn’t have a fancy title or high paying job and he never achieved fame. Instead, my grandfather loved his family and community and shared the gospel. 

As we celebrate Father’s Day 2025, let’s remember all of the men in our lives who leave an eternal legacy by living a life of faith, love, and service. 

Happy Father’s Day 2025!

Key Takeaways for Father’s Day 2025:

• Legacy isn’t about fame—it’s about faith. Even without worldly recognition, your quiet faithfulness can have an eternal impact on your family and community
• Sharing the gospel is the greatest gift we can give. Just like the Apostle Paul, we can develop a zeal for the gospel that has the power to change the people in our lives
• You don’t need a title to leave an eternal mark. A commitment to live a life full of faith, love, and service speaks louder than any status or success

A Prayer for Father’s Day 2025

Father God, we thank you for the men in our lives who’ve impacted us by sharing their love and faith. Please help us to also create an eternal Christian legacy by sharing the love of Jesus with others. In Jesus name, amen!

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Let’s celebrate the dignified men in our lives! Share a favorite story of how your father or father figure impacted you.