Psalm 78:1-8, "Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which 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: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God."

This is an important passage concerning the Lord and His Word being passed on to our children and grandchildren. The Psalmist speaks of what we pass on: the praises of the LORD, His strength, the works He has done, and His laws (vs. 4-5). These things were to be passed on to our children for two reasons: "That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God..." (vs. 7) and that they "might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God." (vs. 8)

You and I have been given a charge and that charge is to learn how to pass on Christianity to our Children. I'm sure that our desire is to see the generations who follows us to come to faith in Christ, and to experience a vibrant daily walk with the Lord. But if we are not talking to our children about the Lord sharing His power, His works, His commandments, and praising Him consistently then we will lose them and the generations to follow. One of the most heartbreaking statements in the bible is found in Judges 2:10, "...and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel."

There is an obvious failure in our society in passing on Christianity to our children and grandchildren. May we be more aware of our responsibilities to pass on our faith in such a way that our children might put their hope in God. The alternative is to raise generations of children who are stubborn and rebellious, whose hearts are not right and whose spirits are not steadfast with God.

Pray for wisdom to pass on Christianity to those who are following after you. Don't forget to attend church tomorrow to lift up the Name of our Great God!

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. How might you utilize the words in today’s reading to grow your family in Christ?

2. Take a moment and evaluate the direction your family is heading toward? Are you moving in the right direction?

3. There was a generation spoken of in Judges 2:10 that knew not the LORD. What can you do to prevent that from happening to your family?