Grace That Builds Our Spiritual Legacy
Read Acts 20:32 “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
For those of us with kids, there comes a defining moment—that sacred milestone when we launch them into the next chapter of life. For many, it’s the day we drop them off at college. If you’ve been there, you know the feeling: pride in who they’ve become mixed with the quiet hope that you’ve prepared them well enough to succeed—or at least survive! You pray that the legacy you’ve passed down—your values, faith, and love—will take root. Thankfully, they’re just a phone call away, and you know they’ll be back soon to visit.
In Acts 20, the Apostle Paul experiences a farewell of a deeper kind, one marked by finality. He’s saying goodbye to the Ephesian church, a community he loves deeply and has faithfully served for three years. He had taught, prayed, and walked with them, declaring the whole purpose of God (v. 20, 27). His love is evident not only in his tears (v. 19, 31), but in theirs (v. 37–38). And it’s all the more heart-wrenching because Paul knows this is the last time they’ll ever see each other (v. 25).
What do you say in a moment like that, when there will be no more visits, no more phone calls? The clock has run out on teaching them what they need to know. What final words would you leave behind to ensure the legacy you’ve built will endure?
Here’s what Paul says: “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (v. 32).
This is legacy language. Paul doesn’t leave them with a checklist or a leadership manual. He points them back to grace! From the day he arrived in Ephesus, grace was his message. And for three years, he continued to instruct them in the grace of God, helping their faith take root and grow deeper. The grace of God is not just what saved them, it’s what would sustain them and build them into the kind of people who would carry the message forward to others.
God’s grace is the only foundation for a lasting spiritual legacy. Not effort, not performance, not polished programs—just grace. It’s the message that builds, strengthens, and ultimately secures an eternal inheritance. Paul knew that if anything lasting was going to remain, if the seeds he planted were going to bear fruit long after he was gone, it would be because of grace.
It began with grace. And it would continue with grace. That’s the kind of legacy worth leaving behind.
In Acts 20, the Apostle Paul experiences a farewell of a deeper kind, one marked by finality. He’s saying goodbye to the Ephesian church, a community he loves deeply and has faithfully served for three years. He had taught, prayed, and walked with them, declaring the whole purpose of God (v. 20, 27). His love is evident not only in his tears (v. 19, 31), but in theirs (v. 37–38). And it’s all the more heart-wrenching because Paul knows this is the last time they’ll ever see each other (v. 25).
What do you say in a moment like that, when there will be no more visits, no more phone calls? The clock has run out on teaching them what they need to know. What final words would you leave behind to ensure the legacy you’ve built will endure?
Here’s what Paul says: “And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (v. 32).
This is legacy language. Paul doesn’t leave them with a checklist or a leadership manual. He points them back to grace! From the day he arrived in Ephesus, grace was his message. And for three years, he continued to instruct them in the grace of God, helping their faith take root and grow deeper. The grace of God is not just what saved them, it’s what would sustain them and build them into the kind of people who would carry the message forward to others.
God’s grace is the only foundation for a lasting spiritual legacy. Not effort, not performance, not polished programs—just grace. It’s the message that builds, strengthens, and ultimately secures an eternal inheritance. Paul knew that if anything lasting was going to remain, if the seeds he planted were going to bear fruit long after he was gone, it would be because of grace.
It began with grace. And it would continue with grace. That’s the kind of legacy worth leaving behind.
Reflection Questions:
- Are you relying on God’s grace to build a lasting spiritual legacy, or are you slipping into a mindset of performance and striving?
- If today were your final goodbye, what message would you want to leave with those you’ve poured into?
Posted in Free- by the Grace of God
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