Hand-Me-Downs!

Hand-me-downs! Do you get excited about them? Have they been viewed as a blessing to you? Or do you feel that if you receive them you might be poor or people will at least think so? I received many hand-me-downs as I was growing up and appreciated them. These hand-me-downs came from my older brother or from family friends with children who had outgrown but not worn out the clothes. I even eventually received some hand-me-downs from my father. My wife and her sister passed baby clothes back and forth as each new baby came onto the scene within each of our families. As our two boys (we also have a daughter) began to surpass me in height, I even got hand-me-downs from them. (Or would you call those hand-me-ups?) Even in recent years I have gratefully accepted clothes from others that were used, but not used up. Yes, hand-me-downs have been a wonderful blessing in my life.

Jesus encouraged…
“BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” ( Matthew 5:3 ESV)

The “poor in spirit” are those who recognize their spiritual need and are open to receiving whatever is needed. Jesus said the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Do we sense our spiritual need so as to receive what will satisfy it? How blessed we are when there is openness to the FAITH OF THE SCRIPTURES being handed down to us.

In God’s desire for FAITHFULNESS to be PERPETUATED among His people, He commanded the following during the days of Moses:
“(6) And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. (7) You shall TEACH THEM DILIGENTLY TO YOUR CHILDREN, and shall talk of them WHEN YOU SIT IN YOUR HOUSE, and WHEN YOU WALK BY THE WAY, and WHEN YOU LIE DOWN, and WHEN YOU RISE.” ( Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

The COMMANDS OF GOD were to be handed down from generation to generation. They were to be talked about through the daily activities of life. Each generation was to be prepared to do the same so that GOD’S COMMANDS would become the basis of life for each succeeding generation. Without the handing down of GOD’S COMMANDS it would not take long for a generation to arise “who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.” ( Judges 2:10) Sadly that too often became the case.

When Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission, He did so with its perpetuation in mind. Jesus said…
“(19) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” ( Matthew 28:19-20)

As Jesus commissioned the disciples, what He commanded them to teach included those being taught to understand they in turn were to PASS THE GOSPEL MESSAGE ON to others who would go teach and baptize others who would then go teach and baptize others who would then go teach and baptize others and on and on the GOOD NEWS OF JESUS would be handed down to bring changes to the lives of those who received it.

Remember Timothy who was sharing A FAITH that had been handed down to him from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. ( 2 Timothy 1:5) It became A FAITH that was alive in Timothy; a faith Paul was encouraging Timothy to continue proclaiming.

One generation can have a dynamic impact one way or the other on the next generation. May we continue to be open to receiving the TRUTH OF THE SCRIPTURES and do our part of handing down A PURE FAITH to the next generation. When it comes to the Gospel of Jesus, one size fits all and will never go out of style.

Have a great day BEING PART OF GOD’S PERPETUAL BLESSING!
Carl

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