To A Thousand Generations
Have you ever been antiquing? To find the rare relic from the past. The diamond in the ruff. Or maybe it’s just a family heirloom that is passed down from generation to generation. One of my most precious possessions is a 1940s peacoat that belonged to my grandfather from his time in the Navy during World War 2. It has value. Not because it’s old. And certainly not any intrinsic value. But it means something to have a piece of history that has traveled over 2 generations of my family.
We place the things of the past in remarkably high esteem that we often discount our kids and grandkids to the value they have at this point in history. We believe they should learn about the past before they can speak their mind. However, if we listen to what Scripture and Jesus have to say on the matter, is it possible that we may be missing something. Toward the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth, he came into Jerusalem. The people lined the streets with tree branches and cloaks hailing Jesus as the rightful king. This made the religious leaders angry. What infuriated was what happened next in Matthew 21:
But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’” (Matthew 21:15-16).
It’s our job as the older generation to cultivate the praises that God calls out of our children. To value what they have to say and to teach and train them in the ways of God. To incorporate our learning from the past with the knowledge that they are the future… So that three or four generations from now, they can look at an article of clothing and say, “That belonged to my grandparents… They are the ones that taught me about salvation.” The blessing of one generation passed onto the other so that His favor be upon you. And a thousand generations. And your family and your children And their children, and their children (Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes, The Blessing).
We place the things of the past in remarkably high esteem that we often discount our kids and grandkids to the value they have at this point in history. We believe they should learn about the past before they can speak their mind. However, if we listen to what Scripture and Jesus have to say on the matter, is it possible that we may be missing something. Toward the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth, he came into Jerusalem. The people lined the streets with tree branches and cloaks hailing Jesus as the rightful king. This made the religious leaders angry. What infuriated was what happened next in Matthew 21:
But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’” (Matthew 21:15-16).
It’s our job as the older generation to cultivate the praises that God calls out of our children. To value what they have to say and to teach and train them in the ways of God. To incorporate our learning from the past with the knowledge that they are the future… So that three or four generations from now, they can look at an article of clothing and say, “That belonged to my grandparents… They are the ones that taught me about salvation.” The blessing of one generation passed onto the other so that His favor be upon you. And a thousand generations. And your family and your children And their children, and their children (Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes, The Blessing).
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