A couple of months ago I was invited by a pastor friend of mine in Spain to participate in a television interview for EITB, sort of a Spanish PBS television station.  The interview is in Spanish, but if you are interested in checking it out, click here!

This is the third post in a three part series.  I have modified and expanded some of the thoughts I shared at my sister-in-law's wedding.  

Our third challenge is found in chapter 17.
 
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
 
The challenge here is holy living.  That passage starts out “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.”  Let's look first at that proclamation.   How often do we look for excuses for not living blameless lives?  God doesn't start with "We live in a fallen world." He starts with "I am God Almighty."  Sure, the world is a fallen world, but there is still an almighty God who has dominion over it.  

Now look at the command. What a bold command!  "Be blameless!"  As you know, that is not always easy.  Temptation abounds and we do, indeed, live in a fallen world. That is not an excuse, just a statement of fact. Selfishness and the flesh get in the way.  But even with all of that God calls us to walk before him and be blameless.  And here is the cool part.  It is just this kind of living that we need to model for our various spheres of influence, be that our family, workplace, or whatever.    Many of us have parents who have provided, and continue to provide, a godly example of Christian life. Even if we don't, we have someone who has invested in our life, who modeled Christian life to us.   We, as Christians, desire to live that kind of life and and to model that for those around us and to the next generation.  Godly living sets the stage for a Godly legacy.  It was true of God’s chosen people back in Genesis. It can be true of of our families as well.
 
I encourage you to take up these three challenges.  Be obedient: when God speaks, do it.  Be faithful: even in the midst of doubts, trust God.  Be blameless: walk in holiness.  God has a fantastic plan for you.  Continue the legacy that your families have passed on to you.