I don’t spend a lot of time reading the news. But recent headlines have caught my attention – with corresponding articles that left me shaking my head in disbelief.
The lives of innocent people have been taken by teens that have yet to reach adulthood. Regardless of the motive: hate, envy, boredom, it seems there is little value placed on life. What a tragedy.
Life is to be valued
All life is precious; from the unborn baby to the oldest person on record, and every life in between. God made mankind different than the rest of creation. You and I are special.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27
Created in the very image of God, we were designed to live in relationship with Him. But Adam and Eve’s sin caused the fellowship between God and man to be broken. Ever since then, mankind has struggled to obey God, and often chooses to go his own way instead of following God.
Devastating results
When we’re focused on getting our way, things deteriorate quickly. Remember the book of Judges? Joshua had successfully led the children of Israel into the Promised Land. But after Joshua’s death, the Israelites failed to drive out all the people who had inhabited the land.
The result? Within a very short time the Israelites had forgotten the Lord, and embraced the practices of the heathen nations. How did it happen? They didn’t teach their children the Word of God:
And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. Judges 2:10
What a sobering truth!
Making life count
As parents, we like to provide nice things for our children – clothes, toys, a college education. But that isn’t where our focus should be. It’s even more important to give our kids a strong, Christ-centered foundation.
Here are a few essentials we can share with our families:
1. Focus on God: let our families see that He is most important in our lives. Make it a priority to read the Bible together and share something the Lord is teaching us. Pray together.
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:5-7
2. Fill our hearts with His Word: memorize His truths so we know how to respond to life’s challenges. Encourage our family members to do the same.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11
3. Share the truth with others: God’s Word is living and active and is able to change hearts.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
Getting back to these basics can radically change the headlines. It’s vitally important that we pass along the baton of faith to the next generation (click to tweet). Will you be part of the solution?
Your turn
Are you bothered by the sin in our nation? What step are you willing to take to make a difference in the next generation?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me of the importance of raising the next generation for You. Forgive me for being so focused on giving my child(ren) material things when the focus needs to be on You. Help me train up the next generation to make a difference for Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
