Every Grandparent can testify that if someone would have just told them that grandchildren were so much fun, the choice would have been made to have them first! Since we can’t do that, let’s use our influence to impact the next generation. This is the emphasis of Psalm 78:1-7.
Pass it forward
“…he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children” (v. 5,6)
Every generation must be faithful in passing down values to the next generation. We stand between past generations and the generations to come. We are entrusted by those who have gone before us with great and important truths; truths to be transmitted to future ages.
What our fathers told us.
We don’t need to come up with some new spiritual reality or truth. The same God who brought Noah through the flood and Israel through the Red Sea and Daniel through the lion’s den can bring our children through whatever they may face.
People still need to know their Bibles. People still need to know how to pray and worship. People still need to know how to love their enemies and forgive others. These truths have not changed and must be passed on.
What is it that we need to communicate to the next generation?
1-The Goodness of God.
“…showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done” (v. 4).
Our family needs to hear the Bible stories that talk about God’s faithfulness to His people. They also need to hear our stories about how God has been faithful to us.
2-The will of God.
“…he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children.” (v. 5)
Life is to be lived in the boundaries of God’s commandments. In a society of toleration and permissive living, it is imperative that God’s commands be passed on to the next generation. Obedience brings God’s blessings and disobedience brings tragedy.
The Consequence – Hope and Trust in God
“That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (v. 7).
There is no greater heritage we can give children than a solid faith in God. Money will easily fail them. There are some problems no amount of money can solve. The economy may fail them. Their friends may even fail them. But God will not fail them. And if they know what He has done in the past, then they can live with an abiding peace and joy confident in God’s goodness. They can take their problems to God in prayer and get some help.
Are you sharing your faith with your children and grandchildren?
You can read some of my other articles about parents and grandparents: 8 Things Grandparents Can Do, Powerful Principle of Three Chairs, 5 Things My Papaw Taught Me.