Relying on a Legacy?
Jeremiah 26:20-22 mentions a prophet named Urijah who was the son of Shemiah. Urijah, though, based his prophesy not upon the Lord's word to him, but upon the words of Jeremiah. When Jehoiakim challenged Urijah, Urijah didn't stand up for what he believed, but fled and was eventually executed. Jeremiah, who prophesied the exact same thing, however, stood firm in his prophesy and avoided the King's wrath.
Urijah had a godly father - Shemiah was one of the leaders that Ezra singled out to help him with his task. Being the son of a Godly father - or the mentee of a Godly mentor - doesn't secure an approved relationship with God, however. Too often we ride on others' coattails in our relationship with God. We have a Godly father, or a Godly mentor, or a Godly pastor, and because of this, we tend to rely on their Godliness for our Godliness. When we do this, though, our relationship with God isn't our own and can't stand firm.
Created over 4 years ago
