Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. (Ps. 119:111)
Expanded Passage: Psalm 119:111-112
Over the past few months I have started looking into my genealogy online. I have found some interesting people in my history, including a king. I have ancestors from Denmark, Ireland, England, Germany, and even Russia. My heritage is not connected with one place but many, each having a unique heritage to pass on. My parents didn’t pass any ethnic traditions to me, but they did pass on the most precious gift of a Christian heritage. Having parents and grandparents that loved God and showed me how to live out a godly life has impressed upon me the importance of a relationship with Jesus Christ. I would not be the person I am today if my parents had not passed their faith down to me.
The author of Psalm 119 used the word heritage to describe the Word of God in his life. He knew that God’s teachings were what he had to hold onto for joy and faith. The precepts from God’s Word kept the nation of Israel safe in many ways and taught them how to be holy. God’s statutes remind us of the lifestyle God intends us to have. The heritage we find when we read Scripture will give us joy and keep us on that path of righteousness. It is something we can cherish as we strive to stay faithful to it for the rest of our lives.
Pass on a heritage of holiness through Scripture.
Beverly Kimball is a Wesleyan pastor’s wife, mathematics teacher, speaker, and author. She is a graduate of Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK) and is working on a master’s in trauma and resiliency.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
