Day 296, Year 1

Do Not Underestimate the Influence of Heredity

“And say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'” (Matthew 23:30 NASB)

The Pharisees, etc., seemed to have underestimated the influence of generational curses, naively believing that they could overcome their ancestors’ propensity to sin by relying on their own abilities. They wrongly believed that knowing their ancestors’ mistakes would prevent them from repeating the mistakes. The obvious sins of our ancestors usually serve as a reminder for believers to be careful of our same propensity to sin. In fact, if we do not deeply reflect on our ancestors’ sins and rely on the power of Jesus to eradicate their roots, many of us are bound to repeat the mistakes of our predecessors. From an early age, people tend to choose the same options that their parents did, which are often bad decisions. Adam’s sins have become curses that future generations inherited. Meanwhile, some people refuse to understand the sins of their parents or ancestors, as they might have idolized their parents or ancestors as inviolable.

People can reflect on the misfortunes that have befallen their parents or grandparents and look for possible curses within. Based on the law of sowing and reaping, as people grow older or approach death, they usually reap what they have sown when they were younger; physical or mental problems are one example. Besides, we should pay attention to the problems in the lives of our elders, such as “saying one thing and doing another,” “talking more than doing,” any forms of hypocrisy, and even accusations against those who point out their faults, etc. So, if you feel down when someone points out your mistakes, you should first address your unwillingness to face the truth.

Contrarily, if your parents are the type who “do more than talk,” then they are often your blessing. It will be easier for you to thank those who point out your mistakes. In fact, how do your parents usually treat those who point out their mistakes? Do they thank them, or do they resent those who denounce them? Everyone inevitably makes mistakes. By humbly listening to others’ corrections, we can free ourselves from weaknesses and sins and attain true repentance. In any case, we should be humble and open-minded, and understand how the problems of our parents and ancestors affect and are rooted in us. We need to confess our sins to the Father in the name of Jesus, rely on His power to completely remove the roots of sin, pray for His blessing to replace all curses, and continually seek breakthroughs and abundance!

Reflection questions:

1) Do you know about the sins of your parents and ancestors? What are some of them that are still affecting you? If so, how would you rely on the Lord to overcome them one by one?

2) Are you willing to accept others’ corrections and responsibly rely on the Lord to resolve your problems, even if they do not necessarily stem from you?