On January 12, 1723, Jonathan Edwards made a solemn dedication of Himself to God. It was one of the defining moments of His life. And I'll share the written vow in a moment.
Few people have left the kind of legacy that Jonathan Edwards did. He is famous for his sermons, including Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, that helped spark the Great Awakening. He graduated from Yale at 13 as valedictorian. After graduating, he is said to have studied thirteen hours a day. He also served as President of Princeton.
But the thing I find most impressive is that he spent one hour every evening with his eleven children. He prioritized his family and the results speak for themselves. Of his known descendants, more than 300 have become ministers or missionaries; 120 became university professors; over 100 became lawyers; 60 became prominent authors; there are 30 judges, 14 college presidents, 3 members of congress, and 1 vice-president.
How would you like to leave that kind of legacy?
Back to January 12, 1723. Edwards gave himself to God with these words:
I made a solemn dedication of myself to God, and wrote it down; giving up myself, and all that I had to God; to be for the future, in no respect, my own; to act as one that had no right to himself, in any respect. And solemnly vowed, to take God for my whole portion and felicity; looking on nothing else, as any part of my happiness, nor acting as if it were; and his law for the constant rule of my obedience.
Few people have left the kind of legacy that Jonathan Edwards did. He is famous for his sermons, including Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, that helped spark the Great Awakening. He graduated from Yale at 13 as valedictorian. After graduating, he is said to have studied thirteen hours a day. He also served as President of Princeton.
But the thing I find most impressive is that he spent one hour every evening with his eleven children. He prioritized his family and the results speak for themselves. Of his known descendants, more than 300 have become ministers or missionaries; 120 became university professors; over 100 became lawyers; 60 became prominent authors; there are 30 judges, 14 college presidents, 3 members of congress, and 1 vice-president.
How would you like to leave that kind of legacy?
Back to January 12, 1723. Edwards gave himself to God with these words:
I made a solemn dedication of myself to God, and wrote it down; giving up myself, and all that I had to God; to be for the future, in no respect, my own; to act as one that had no right to himself, in any respect. And solemnly vowed, to take God for my whole portion and felicity; looking on nothing else, as any part of my happiness, nor acting as if it were; and his law for the constant rule of my obedience.
5 Comments:
Wow. That is awesome. May we each pray and commit to a similar prayer.
Have a safe trip Mark.
And today is my birthday! Yay!
Very very challenging. I remember reading the "Sinners in the hand of an angry God" sermon when I was 15 and being impacted. But I did not know about the legacy... Thank you!!
Inspirational and encouraging. Don't give up. I've been unemployed for seven months for standing up for my convictions and ehtical principles. I'm in the middle of your book IN THE PIT WITH A LION ON A SNOWY DAY. My wife brought home an excerpt from off the bulletion board at her office. Ironically were being pounded with snow as I look out the window. The book is very needed at this time. Thanks
Mark thank you, Edwards truly understood the meaning of dedicating his life for the sake of the kingdom. Your comments on the legacy edwards left go well with the quote I just read from Sunday Adelaja "the church is not for entertaining believers, but it is a place for raising up world changers and history makers." Edwards must have understood that.
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