Wednesday, August
9, 2017
O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for
I will speak to you in a parable. 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. For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his
instructions to Israel. 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 78:1-8(NLT)
refusing to give their hearts to God. Psalm 78:1-8(NLT)
It’s not an
easy (or small) thing to pass something along to the next generation. The term generation gap was very prevalent in the generation in
which I grew up. There is something of an
age fault-line that
splits the relationship between parents and children about the time teenage
years begin.
In Asaph’s
Psalm he gives us a little peek into bridging that fault-line. In the opening verses he talks about the
parents’ responsibilities to teach the faith to their children. (By the way – this includes grandparents and
great-grandparents, aunts and uncles). The
problem we often have with doing that, is teaching presupposes someone on the other end is listening and willing to learn. Not always so!
But Asaph
turns to that part of the equation towards the end, and here’s where the hope
and caution lies for the teachers:
The
Caution
The
Psalmist cautions the younger generation in verses 7-8 to set its hope anew on God so
they won’t be stubborn and rebellious. I’ve
known teens that were very teachable, eager to learn God’s ways. I’ve never known a teen that didn’t have a
little rebellion lurking somewhere inside, perhaps deep-down. The point is that the caution is well-taken;
we are created to love and obey God’s ways, but sin has corrupted the wiring,
and every generation goes (at least) a little crazy rebelling against
authority.
The
Hope
The hope is
contained in the caution. At a point in
time, because God’s Word is true, every member of every generation comes face
to face with the need for a relationship with God, their Creator. Turning to God, or setting our hope anew on
God, is an experience seen time and again.
I was not far from this model; in my teen years I rebelled against the “religious
ways” of my parents. By the mid-twenties
my rebellious path created such misery in my soul I had to turn to Christ.
But,
parents please note: this hope contains a special caution for you! Each generation must set its hope ANEW, meaning there will be
new ways, and different approaches. Be careful
that you are prepared to encourage, not disparage; don’t find ways to mock and
sneer at the way young
people are turning to Christ. You may
not like their music, tattoos, hairstyles, or meeting times, but a heart
turning to God is not something to mess with. Remember what Jesus said about letting the
little ones come to him. That includes the
babes in Christ who have a driver’s license, acne, and a nose ring!
For You Today
A
parent’s job is to tell the story to their kids, and other people’s kids and
grandkids; keep telling the story. But
no force-feeding; it’s up to the kids to want to set their hope anew on Christ…you
tell the story with love, compassion and respect; let the Holy Spirit do the
leading!
NOTES
