Telling the Next Generation

That you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson, how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the Lord. Exodus 10:2

Because of the Explore God emphasis in Austin, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my own relationship with God. Why do I believe? How did I come to faith? Why have I never really doubted? And while there are many good answers to those questions, one obvious one is that I was raised to believe in God.

Bottom line: I owe my faith in God to my parents. They taught me about God, and I still believe decades later.

The Old Testament is ripe with teaching about the importance of passing faith along to the next generations. God repeatedly instructs parents and grandparents to “tell in the hearing of your son, and of your grandson” the great works of God. That’s how faith gets passed along. That’s how new disciples are born and raised–through the story-telling of their parents, grandparent, and aunts and uncles.

My wife Susie is great about this. She’s great about setting up family dinners just so she can ask strategic questions like: What was the last think God said to you? or What curriculum does God have you on right now? And guess what, not only do my kids associate our dinner table with God-talk, their friends do too. They know if they come to our table they’re going to talk about God.

In other words, it’s normal.

As a follower of Jesus, you have an amazing opportunity to influence the younger generation for Christ. Don’t buy this junk that they need to come to their faith on their own and that you shouldn’t try to influence them. They are not growing up in a spiritual vacuum. They are being influenced, and it’s your job and mine to make sure they’re being influenced toward Jesus.

Today, spend some time with a member of the next generation and just brag on God. That’s all it takes.