Passing On A Legacy
For the past couple of days we’ve been reflecting on the wonderful heritage that’s been passed on to us by the generations that preceded us. Today it’s time to ask ourselves, what are we passing on to the generations that are coming after us?Psalm 78 encourages us with these words: I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. Psalm 78:2-4 We have wonderful stories from our parents and grandparents – and if you are my generation then you heard how they came through tough times like the 2nd world war and the depression with rationing of food and supplies. We need to carry on the sharing of the stories with the little ones in our lives. All the digital photos in the world won’t be able to share the heart and soul that these stories can. And that’s what the writer of this Psalm is reminding us as he recounts the history of God delivering His people from slavery and staying with them for years while they wandered in the desert and then as they made their homes in the Promised Land. There is no question about God’s generous faithfulness to His people even though they aren’t so faithful to Him. And then reminded the people why it was important to tell the stories. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God. Psalm 78:6-8 I wish it weren’t so easy for all of us to forget God’s word to us and God’s example of help and guidance but we do and those coming after us surely will – unless we are faithful in our witness to remind them. Let’s pray to tell the story of God’s goodness well. Loving God, down through history and certainly in our own lives we have so many stories we could tell of the many times You’ve been there for us and the countless ways You’ve helped us. You know how quickly we forget and those that come after us have even more distractions than we did and are taught all sorts of things that contradict the truth of Your Word. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God. Psalm 78:6-8 We pray today to be those who are faithful witnesses. There’s no generation that needs hope any less than the generation before it and so we have a generation that needs to set it’s hope anew on you, not forgetting Your glorious miracles and commands. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? We are still as helpless without You as any generation prior to us. We all still need to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and call on His name to be saved. And yet so many people table haven’t heard anything about Jesus so how can they believe what they don’t even know about? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:13 – 15 So here we are. We make ourselves available to You today God to go and tell us. Send us out in the power of Your Holy Spirit to be those who bring good news in beautiful ways. We’re simple people but we believe that as we allow You to live in us and inspire us with what You want to share with others that You will make this happen and lives will be changed forever.
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