Next Generation!

In the second giving of the Law, Moses encouraged the nation of Israel to keep their focus on God and His commands. The responsibility of passing God’s commands on to the next generation was also emphasized. ( Deuteronomy 6:6-7) This was very important since -- as has been spoken many times -- apostasy (abandonment of or departure from the truth) is only a generation away.

What a glorious thing it must have been to receive the fulfillment of the promise of God to provide Israel with an inheritance in the promised land. Under the leadership of Joshua enemies were conquered and run out and the land was divided among the tribes of Israel. They had arrived at a point in their history where they could just SETTLE IN to the comfort of a land they could call their own and show their deep gratitude to God for His faithfulness to His promises by being faithful to Him.

Then came the death of Joshua…
“(6) When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. (7) And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the LORD had done for Israel. (8) And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110 years. (9) And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. (10) And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And THERE AROSE ANOTHER GENERATION AFTER THEM WHO DID NOT KNOW THE LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.” ( Judges 2:6-10 ESV)

Here they were SETTLED IN the promised land, but within one generation, knowledge of God and the great work He had done for Israel was lost. It is important for us to recognize how quickly it can happen! Each generation must both live and teach so that the next generation has a foundation on which to build up their own faith. Teens can also play a significant role among their peers by seeking to live godly lives themselves and encouraging one another in faithfulness to the Scriptures and to God. Instead of getting too comfortable with our own spiritual growth, let us allow the urgency of encouraging the faith of others to SETTLE IN to our minds. Unless we all remain vigilant in doing this there are souls that will be lost. It is for our own sake and the sake of succeeding generations that we need to SETTLE IN to upholding the truth, working to instill it into the lives of others.

Have a great day ACCEPTING OUR PART IN THE FUTURE OF OTHERS!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Responsibility