Psalm 61:5 (NIV) For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

I have thanked the Lord many times for the heritage that I have of a mother who loved and served the Lord. My grandmother did the same and I believe it goes further back than that. My dad wasn’t saved until I was fifteen years old, but my mother’s faith and love of God more than made up for that fact. My sister and I have always considered ourselves to have been brought up in a Christian home even though it was only my mother who was a born-again believer.

I often think about what my life would have looked like had I been brought up in a home where neither my mom nor my dad knew the Lord Jesus. It’s hard to imagine not growing up knowing the God who not only created the heavens and the earth but who also is the one who made me. I am so, so thankful that I grew up knowing Jesus and that it was much more than just a religion in our home. My mom had a real relationship with the Lord. But what about the many people who have grown up or who are now currently growing up in a home that does not even acknowledge God? Is there any hope for them? The verse above gives us the answer to that question. This psalm was written by David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and what he is declaring is that God had given him the heritage of those who fear His name. In other words, he was expressing gratitude that he was given a heritage “like” someone who has the fear of the Lord. We don’t know much about David’s parents. His brothers didn’t seem to have the same fervency for God as he had but we really don’t know very much about His family. But David’s declaration in this verse gives hope to everyone who does not have the physical heritage of a father and mother who love and fear God. For those who don’t, God Himself draws them to Jesus and then gives them the heritage of those who fear His name.

How good is our God who took care of every detail to make sure that everyone has the same opportunity to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, whether they were brought up in the faith or not. D.L. Moody, one of the greatest evangelists of the nineteenth century, had a dad who was an alcoholic who died when he was four years old and a mother who was nominally religious but who knew little about God. Still, God gave him the heritage of those that fear the name of the Lord. The same is true of Charles Finney, a well-known nineteenth century minister and educator who was a leading figure in the “Second Great Awakening,” which was a massive revival in this country. He too was given the heritage of those who fear the name of the Lord. It is also to be noted that many who have been given the heritage of a godly mother and father have rejected the faith while those that didn’t have it initially were given that heritage by God Himself. It’s a blessed heritage and available to all who will submit their hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus. All who want that heritage may receive it because of our loving, merciful and gracious God!

Pastor Joey Vazquez