The Praiseworthy Deeds Of The Lord Ps.78:4
The Psalm goes on to say the Israelites were commanded to teach their children the law and God’s statutes so that they would put their trust in Him and keep His commands. If we think “big picture” we must value the training of our children (both our natural children and the kids in our churches). Now that our kids are grown up and having kids of their our, I do not regret making their God training a priority in my schedule. It’s the most important thing in my life as a mother. The same is true for people I’ve discipled who are now grown up as believers. Nothing else that I’ve put time into am I going to take with me to the next life, but these precious ones who’ve chosen to follow Jesus with me.
If you read the psalm, the words are strong. “Commanded” sounds rather forceful….it wasn’t a suggestion! The consequences are too important. This is something that can change an eternal destiny. I want to encourage us all to look for young ones with open hearts so that we pass on this most wonderful story in the world. Most people who come to Jesus do so before the age of 14. I was just talking to a young Mom today that came to Jesus at 14 after her father died and she learned to cry out all her pain to her Father in heaven. It has changed her life!
Last week I got out 3 kid’s Bible story books to put on my coffee table so that when my grandchildren come over they are easy to find. (They are 2 and 3.) Wherever we can find them, there are kids who live in a mess, who would love to know about a Jesus way to live. I’ve knocked on doors with a friend beside me and asked if there were any little girls (Jaana’s age then) who would like to come to a craft/story/song club after school.
We gathered about a dozen and did a Sunday school in a disadvantaged neighborhood. Those kids were interested in hearing stories about Jesus, and then praying for their owies, and seeing some of them get healed!
We ran into a man who as a boy grew up across the street from Gary’s family and after a life of incredible horror, came back to a childhood decision to follow Jesus. He told us of how he would try to remember how the Best family had lived when he had a family of his own! God feels strongly about the next generation. It’s a command.
Responses to “We Will Tell The Next Generation”
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:41 am
So true, Joy. We have seen this in our own children and now in our foster children. Years ago our youngest stated upon leaving the Langley Vineyard, “Good bye church, see you everywhere.” Most recently we have had three girls staying with us ages 5, 2 1/2 and 10 months. For the two older girls, church is the highlight of the week. Yesterday, on the way to school the oldest said, Jesus/God really is the king of the world. I don’t recall teaching that specifically but she is getting the true picture. Wonderful!
September 11th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
thanks, Joy, for your blog – for your stories of God’s faithfulness and goodness to you and your family over the years. We need to find all sorts of ways to tell one another and the generations coming up after us, how big and how good God is. A family with kids might have a routine at meals to go around the table completing the sentence: “Today I saw/felt God being (good or big and powerful)” God in creation, God in community, and of course, God in history.