March 26, 2020
We are always one generation away from great loss. If we are not careful, we can hold important values but never successfully pass them on to those who come behind us. And the results are always disastrous. This pattern has been repeated through countless generations.
THE ISRAELITE ILLUSTRATION
Joshua led an extraordinary campaign and fought great battles to secure the promised land. He was wholly devoted to the Lord and led the nation to do the same. But after his death, we read this sobering commentary:
It doesn't take long. We cannot control those who come behind us, but we can do our best to help them. And, it must be incredibly intentional. What can we do?
WE MUST HELP THE NEXT GENERATION GENUINELY KNOW THE LORD.
This is not mere head knowledge. Our great passion should be to help our children and grandchildren know the Lord experientially, deeply, and fully. It must be a personal relationship with Him that is alive and vibrant for only this will keep them from false gods. We must disciple them, put them in the battle, train them, and create environments where they can experience Christ fully.
And our relationship with Christ must be authentic. If we are not experiencing Christ personally and growing to know Him more and more each year we have no hope of training our children. They will hear our lifestyle more than our words.
WE MUST TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION “THE WORK WHICH GOD HAS DONE.”
This is not a mere reciting, but instilling in them the gratitude which flows from understanding the ways of God in human history. Not just in our personal history, but the whole redemptive history of mankind. This comes when we have given them a clear orientation to God’s word that will help them see everything in human history through this lens.
WE MUST TURN FROM EVERY IDOL OF THE WORLD AND HELP THOSE BEHIND TO DO SO.
We must not be enamored with "the gods of the peoples" who are around us. We worship Baal as much as the Canaanites, yet we call our gods by different names … sports, entertainment, reputation, money, sex, power. These gods must be clearly unveiled for what they are. And we must do whatever necessary to help those behind us know how to identify and ignore them.
WE MUST LOVE AND WORSHIP CHRIST FERVENTLY!
The greatest way to expose Baal to the next generation is to exalt Christ. His beauty and the glory of knowing Him will make other gods unattractive and be our best antidote for the barrage of Baal worship. We must worship Him personally and collectively with passionate abandonment and show the next generation the thrill of loving the One who loves them and died for them.
Father, I’m so grateful that You have let me know you in this life. I want to love you more and serve you better. But Lord, do not let me miss passing this to those who come behind me. May my love for you be contagious. May they learn the inestimable value of loving you with all their heart, and soul, and mind, and strength.
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