Teaching the Generation to Come

Background Scripture: Psalms 78; 145
Lesson Scripture: Psalms 78:1-7; 145:3-7

Introduction

In Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Moses instructs the children of Israel to constantly teach their children by carrying the Word of God in their heart, tying it to their arm, and writing it on the walls of their house. For parents to only apply these verses literally misses the point. The point is that our lives are continually teaching our children something. The first requirement to pass a godly legacy on to the next generation is that our love is set on God and the Word is alive in our hearts. The warmth of the Holy Spirit in our lives will leave a lasting impression on those who are following. This will prepare the hearts of our children to respond to the call of God and follow in the same way.

Key Verse

Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation (Joel 1:3).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

Psalm 78 was written by Asaph, who was an inspired composer, singer, and prophet. It gives us a concise history of the children of Israel from the time of Moses to King David’s era and was written as a psalm to be sung. A song is a message clothed in music, and singing, by its character, imbeds itself in the memory. Songs inspired by the Holy Spirit can come to mind unexpectedly and at appropriate times to guide our thoughts toward God. No doubt the book of Psalms, which was inspired by God, was written for this purpose.

King David wrote Psalm 145 in a spirit of inspired praise. Some of David’s psalms reveal his deep conflict and the overwhelming challenges that he faced in confronting evil. Time and again, David turned to God as his only source of hope and strength. David desired that this truth would be imbedded in the hearts of future generations. Israel began to fall away after King David passed on, yet as they renewed their covenant with God, the psalms became alive as they were sung with joy in the temple. Nearly three thousand years later, a psalm will still speak to the hearts of God’s children. Psalms bring a message of hope and comfort in a way that even a new convert can understand. We can envision David penning the psalms in a moment of inspiration, not knowing the profound impact they would have on future generations.

Both psalms are an ancient example of teaching the generation to come.

Practical Truths for Today

The first six years of a child’s life are a time of change and development, and children are very impressionable during this time. How can a parent take full advantage of this opportunity and plant truth into fertile soil? A concise answer is self-denial. This present era offers many intriguing toys and electronic devices to keep our children entertained, and it becomes a temptation for parents to use them for this purpose. A spiritual parent finds self-denial as a way of life. Taking time to answer the child’s question, sitting down with a discontented child and reading a story, or settling disputes among siblings is considered an opportunity rather than a burden. A small child in her innocence eagerly tells mother that she wants to help. Self-denial comes into play again as the mother patiently works with her child to complete the task.

Many of us experienced a home where our father and mother had a demanding schedule with very few modern conveniences. There are memories of Mother reading a Bible story, singing, or answering questions about heaven. Worship, both in the family setting and at church, was important and seemed to take precedence over temporal matters. There were times when the family worship also became a time of sharing burdens or confessing faults with the father leading the way.

These practices may be called traditions, but they become much more than that when it stems from the hearts of parents who love God first and above all else. In this way, the faith is passed on to the next generation, and a living entity is planted in the heart of young, impressionable children that will not leave nor be forgotten. Coming into the age of accountability, the children are in the right place to yield to the call of the Savior and embrace the faith that their parents lived for. This practice of passing on the faith is still relevant for today.

Jesus created and founded his church on earth. He commissioned us to live and share his gospel throughout the world. We believe that Jesus will preserve his church unchanged until the end of time, yet we live in an era that is rapidly changing. Satan endeavors to influence each successive generation to stop fully practicing the “faith . . . once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3), but the gospel cannot be altered.

A firm, exacting spirit will appear to bring compliance but will not plant conviction in those who follow. Apostle Paul admonished the Corinthians, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). Because he had Christ firmly in focus, he was able to say this. As mentors to the oncoming generation, we may be hesitant to use the words of Paul, but in essence our lives should express this.

Among God’s people, there is a conviction that we are living in the last days. Satan knows that he has but a short time (Rev. 12:12) and is attacking with vehemence. The various tools that Satan has invented to influence and ensnare God’s children are being used with alarming effectiveness. Satan’s methods can bring false teaching and sin from any part of the globe and place it right into our personal space via modern technology. The trap of moral impurity and its subtle influence blurs the line between the world and godly living. In essence, it all comes down to unwillingness to live a life of obedience to the Word, the Holy Spirit, and the church. Summarized into one word, this is unbelief.

It may burden the older generation as they view the younger brothers and sisters endeavoring to deal with the current challenges. This burden should lead the elders to intercede in prayer for the generation following. However, they must take care that they do not fuel a negative or discouraging outlook that will close the door to encourage and inspire the younger generation.

Great battles of the past were won by officers who, at great risk to their own lives, fearlessly led their men to the front lines. Youth, parents, and grandparents are in the heat of this battle for the faith, and the cost is too high to accept defeat. When we become a child of God we become leaders because someone is following and watching. Responsibility increases with age and maturity. Those who will lead must take to the front line with hearts on fire with the love of God. Embracing the teachings of the Word and applying them with grace given by the Holy Spirit will counter anxiety and compromise. The basic gospel truths of repentance, accepting salvation by faith, and walking in obedience will never lose their effectiveness.

Questions

1. Our children cannot simply be born into the faith. How can parents teach biblical truth to their children so that it becomes alive in their hearts?
2. God is love, but Jesus also taught that God is to be feared (Matt. 10:28). Is teaching the fear of God lacking in our time?
3. The phrase “generation gap” has been common for years. How can the older brothers and sisters voice their faith and concerns in a way that spans this gap?
4. We believe that Christ established his church and that it will carry his gospel as taught by Him and the apostles to the end of time. In light of this, what is meant by “earnestly [contending] for the faith” (Jude 3)?

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).