Responsibility to the Generations

by dan ohlerking on 08/18/10

[The following are notes taken and prepared by Connie Firmin during Pastor Dino Rizzo‘s recent message at Healing Place Church. Thanks Connie, for sharing them with us! -do]

Out of all the responsibilities we have in life, our main one is making sure the next generation (our kids and grandkids…both biological and spiritual ones) gets the message of God’s faithfulness and the story of Him in our lives - the story of Jesus coming in and redeeming us. 

We cannot make the minor things the main things in our lives.  We don’t want to get to Heaven to hear God say “You tended to a lot, but you didn’t tend the main thing.”  We have a Biblical responsibility to tell the next generation.  We must live out our faith, guide by teaching them about good choices (deadly and wise friend choices), and fight “our giants” so they do not have to fight them.  If we don’t fight our giants, they will be forced to fight ours as well as their own. 

Question:  Are my kids fighting my Goliath’s?

Psalm 78:3-7; Psalm 89:1-4; Psalm 145:1-4 (NIV)

Whatever the cost, we have to lead the next generation to God.  We must make sure the next gen knows the faithfulness of God, the acts, the judgment, the good things of God.  We must tell the story of His grace in our own lives.  The grace we have freely received.  It’s with not only our lips, but our lives that we share God’s greatness.

When we tell our story, it should be exciting and full of the truth that involves REDEMPTION.

It’s no one else’s responsibility.  It’s mine.  It’s a mandate!  Am I manning my post?  Have I told my kids?  What do they see in my life?

The most important thing to pass along to the next gen is John 14:6 (NIV).  We must tell our kids, our grandkids…and then they must decide what to do with it.  Jesus said it!  We didn’t come up with it. 
 
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

There are more important things than boats, cars, camps, TV shows, etc.  Tolerance can send you straight to hell.  We live in a world that seems tolerant of everything.  We must take a stand to tell the next generation that there is NO OTHER WAY.  It’s only found through Jesus.  We cannot leave it to chance with our children and grandchildren.  Any other way is counterfeit.  Whatever you pass down, make sure you pass this down.  Then, at least, they will have the truth.

I must live up to the responsibility!  I must live it out.

Lord, quicken our hearts and awaken our souls!  Guide our steps and our words to the next gen in our lives.  Help us Lord!