“…so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.“ Psalm 78: 6-7
Psalm 78 is a great Psalm- it is a summation of the Exodus, how God saved his people and led them through Moses out of slavery in Egypt. But it is also very truthful. It tells of the wilderness journey and how the people turned from God in spite of His miraculous works. It tells how He blessed them with the land of promise and they still turned against him. It tells of how the Lord gave them David to rule over them. Basically, it tells the story of God’s constant reaching out to His people.
We Christians have this story and another. The story of God reaching out and giving us the Son of David on the cross for our sins. It, too is a story we must tell the next generations. Charles Dickens did. He wrote the story for his children in his book, The Life of Christ. It is one of his lesser known works, but one of his best. If you can find it, get it and read it to your family.
I applaud parents that home school their children- but even if your children are in parochial schools or public schools, they still need to be “schooled at home”. Grandchildren need to be schooled about our Lord as well. They will not get this schooling in school, will they? They may not even get it in Sunday School. It is our responsibility as parents and grandparents to make sure they understand what God has done for us, continues to do for us, and how they must turn to Him daily and talk with Him. We are the ones God has assigned to tell the story. That’s our job.
The great thing about teaching the next generations is that it once again teaches us. In today’s world, we need that teaching to be fresh in our hearts and minds as well, don’t we. When we tell others of the Story, we again reiterate it to ourselves. Our faith is renewed, His promises and mercy once again are new.
But please, do not end your story with the Resurrection and the promise of His coming again. Christ is working out a story in you. Share that. Share how God has blessed you, held you safe during life’s storms, tested you in times of trial, and lifted you high upon the mountain top of faith. Write down your story of Christ. Teach that as well, to the next generation “so they may not forget His deeds and keep His commandments”.
Holy Father, thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you for the times You have been there when we called out to You. Thank you for your many blessings. Thank you for Your ultimate love through the sacrifice of Your Son on the Cross for our sakes. Give us the desire to tell others of Your wonders and Your deeds. Help us convey how You have faithfully walked with us through our lives. Let us not drop the ball. The next generations need to know. Renew in us the story so we can pass it on. We ask this through your Son, Amen.
“We will not hide them from our children, we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and the wonders he has done.” Psalm 78 4
