READING: Judges 1-3, Luke 4:1-30
“There arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord.”
Judges 2:10
Joshua 24 ended with the good word that the people of God “served the LORD all the days of Joshua” (Josh. 24:31). The book of Judges, though, quickly speaks about “another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10). One generation walks with the Lord, but it doesn’t take long before a next generation arises that does not know Him. That’s almost hard to believe, but it happens.
Think about what causes next generations to move in the wrong direction. Sometimes our walk with God becomes so routine and ritualistic that it loses its fervor and attraction. In some cases, the pressure of pagan culture wins out, causing people to turn to idols rather than serve God. In other situations, the time between the miracles of God and the present becomes long enough that we simply forget yesterday’s blessings. In the days of the judges, it appears that the leaders failed to continually teach the mighty acts of God to the next generations. Obviously, it’s easy to forget when no one really teaches you the truths in the first place.
As I read today’s texts, I’m reminded again of the importance of teaching to every generation the past blessings of God. I wonder, for example, how many children and teens in a church don’t even know the Christian stories of their grandparents and parents. I’m sure that many church attenders haven’t heard the testimonies of the very people who lead their church services every week. I suspect that many church members also don’t know the history of God’s hand on their congregation; they know the present tense activity, but not the past-tense work of God. We don’t tell the stories, but we nevertheless expect the next generations to know them and to live accordingly.
Our world continually bombards the next generation with teachings and concepts that contradict the Christian gospel. If they choose to go in the wrong direction, let it not be because we’ve failed to teach them the truth.
ACTION STEPS:
- Consider your opportunities to teach the truth of God’s Word to the next generations. Tell somebody your own spiritual story.
- Pray for your church’s next generation leaders.
PRAYER: “Lord, help me never to forget Your blessings, and then burden me to teach the next generations.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Judges 4-6, Luke 4:31-44