Posterity For The Peaceable!

May 26, 2026

Scripture

“Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is posterity for the peaceable.  But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.”  Psalm 37:37-38

Posterity For The Peaceable!

I would never claim to be blameless.  I would not make that claim to you today.  I would not make that claim to Jesus today.  I will not make that claim when I meet Jesus face to face in heaven. 

I am a sinner.  I need a large measure of God’s grace, the forgiveness of Jesus, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my life every day.  However, while I am not blameless, I do live in a right relationship with the Lord God.

I would never claim to be blameless because I can only live a life of holiness when I choose to live in and by the grace of the Lord God.  In Romans 3:23-24 the Apostle Paul reminds us of an important truth.  Paul writes; “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his (God’s) grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” 

When I stand before a holy God, I am fully aware that I am not blameless; I am a sinner forgiven and saved by grace!  The good news is I can live in the grace of God, I can experience the mercy of God, and I can live in a right relationship with God.

So, when David draws our attention to those who are “blameless” and “upright” I know it is only by God’s grace and the salvation I know in Jesus that I would dare identify myself with that group.  And yet, my Heavenly Father does include me in the “blameless” and “upright” group.

David knew he could never deserve to be called blameless.  He had done some horrible things to other people, he had turned his back on the Lord God, and he had denied his value as a child of God.  In Psalm 51 David prays and pleads for the forgiveness of the Lord God.

In Psalm 51:1-12 David prays;

“Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy,
    blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
    and blameless when you pass judgment.
Indeed, I was born guilty,
    a sinner when my mother conceived me.

You desire truth in the inward being;
    therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
    and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and sustain in me a willing spirit.”

And yet, by God’s grace, David possessed the assurance that he was a precious and loved child of the Lord God. 

David also held onto the promise he shares in Psalm 37.  David believed there is “posterity” for those who love the Lord God with all their heart, soul, and mind.  The Lord God promises posterity to those who love the Lord. 

“Posterity” is a reference to all future generations who come after me.  In other words, there are generations of people to come who will know Jesus as their Savior because I have chosen to love the Lord God with all my heart, soul, and mind.    

In Psalm 37:37-38 David writes; “Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is posterity for the peaceable.  But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.”    

In contrast to those who love the Lord God, the wicked will have a different kind of posterity.  David is clear their destruction will be certain and complete.  David knows they will be eternally “cut off” from the Lord God!  David knows people who are wicked do not have much to pass on to the next generations.

Most of us want our life and faith to make a difference in the world.  A part of the difference we want to make is to leave a legacy for the generation(s) who follow us.  So, what kind of legacy do I want to leave? 

You could leave a large stock portfolio, a massive real estate investment, or a mountain of cash as an inheritance.  You could leave rare art work, family heirlooms, or even the family home for the next generation.  You could leave your business, your farm, or a classic car as a gift.

The problem is all of these things will not last.  Jesus contrasts building our future on our possessions with building our future on the Kingdom of God.  Jesus says that so much of what we value in the world wears out and will eventually be destroyed. 

In Luke 12:32-34 Jesus says; “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions and give alms.  Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus is clear that what lasts forever are the things of the Kingdom of God.  It is clear that the lasting value of our posterity will be measured not in the things of the world but in the things of the Kingdom of God. 

The posterity I want to leave is a spiritual one.  The legacy for which I want to be remembered is measured in people living a life of holiness that is an expression of their deep love for and faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord.  Jesus reminds us our heart will follow our treasure or our heart will follow Jesus.

I know a family whose focus was mostly on passing on a legacy measured in dollars and acres and precious commodities.  That legacy was expected by the children and by the grandchildren.  The challenge of that kind of posterity is that it valued the things that do not last rather than the things that last forever. 

Several members of the family lost their motivation to work, lost their drive to make a difference in the lives of other people, and lost their desire to dream a God-sized dream.  When the financial resources ran out much sooner than anyone expected, several family members became disillusioned and angry.  Bitterness filled their hearts to such a degree there was little room for the love of Jesus.

Knowing that family’s story and knowing what Jesus says in Luke 12 have both had a huge impact on the posterity I am praying to leave for the next generations.  I pray Jesus can use me to leave a spiritual legacy that will have a direct impact on the present life and eternal life of those who come after me.

I encourage you to pray about the kind of posterity/legacy you are preparing today for those who will follow you.   

Reflect

How are you preparing to leave a financial legacy for your family and friends?  What are you doing today to leave a spiritual legacy for those who follow you?  In the work of leaving a legacy (financial and spiritual) where are you discouraged right now?  For what are you grateful to the Lord God for already doing in you and through you to leave a posterity that honors the Lord God?

Pray

Lord God, I know life is about more than money and that life is about more than just spiritual things.  Holy Spirit help me to discern what is a healthy and helpful and God-honoring mix of financial assets and spiritual treasure to leave as a legacy for those who come after me.  Push me to renew my commitment to and the preparation of a posterity that will honor you.  I pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Act

If you do not have a will, make an appointment today to begin the process with an attorney.  If you have not done a careful financial inventory and a prayerful spiritual inventory of what you would like to leave as a legacy, begin writing down what is most important.  Meet with a Christ-follower so you can begin a conversation about how you can take the next steps in making a difference in the spiritual lives of other people after you are gone.